This is fake, because the information about “Ukrainian phone scammers” was not published on the official platforms of USA Today, and the video with the logo of the outlet turned out to be fake and was spread by propagandists through Telegram. In addition, the Los Angeles Police Department has not reported any such scams involving Ukrainians.
Several Russian websites, citing USA Today, have spread claims that “Ukrainian phone scammers” have allegedly defrauded Americans of $40 million under the pretense of helping victims of the massive fires in Los Angeles. The publications claim that a new scheme has been developed for U.S. citizens: scammers using fake phone numbers allegedly called Americans, pretending to be representatives of a charity collecting donations for fire victims and encouraging them to donate.
While these reports claim that USA Today journalists covered this story, the news outlet has never published such information on its official platforms. Further investigation by StopFake revealed that the source of this “news” is a fake video bearing the USA Today logo that has been widely circulated by propaganda channels on Telegram.
This video was never published on the official website or platforms of the American outlet USA Today. Analysis using the Osavul service revealed that the first to publish the video was the propaganda Telegram channel “КрымФорум ZOV” on January 15.
Stock footage and photos of fires in Los Angeles were used to create the fake video.
It is also worth noting that the Los Angeles Police Department has not reported any fraud schemes involving Ukrainians as described. Meanwhile, at a press conference on January 11, California officials warned citizens of an increase in fraudulent activity amid the crisis. “To anybody who would take advantage of people for their greedy gain, who see dollar signs, I have a message for you: You will be held responsible,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “You will be prosecuted.”
Analysts also point out that Russia is trying to use the Los Angeles wildfires to spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda, including through unsubstantiated fake stories. “It’s just so typical of what we see from Russia, to take advantage of an ongoing crisis for their own ends,” Darren Linvill, a communications professor and co-director of the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University, told NPR while analyzing one of the similar fake videos discrediting Ukraine.
Previously, StopFake debunked false claims that eight cottages belonging to Ukrainian generals had supposedly burned down in Los Angeles.
