Message warns not to accept a video called “move your cucu”? Fact Check

ByCraig Haley

Messages online warn not to accept or open a video called “move your cucu” since it is a virus that will format your device.

FALSE

Alarmist and breathless warnings about the latest virus are a dime a dozen on social media, most of which simply resurface time and time again in almost identical fashion with only the name of the alleged virus changed. This rehash is no different, with its text almost entirely borrowed from previous and equally spurious warnings.

Examples as they appear on social media can be seen below.

URGENT: Tell all the contacts on your list not to accept a video called * Move your cucu *. It is a virus that formats your mobile. Be careful, it’s very dangerous. Pass it on to your list as people open it thinking it’s a joke. They are broadcasting it today on the radio. Pass it on to whoever you can.
They have also said it on TV3

Tell all contacts not to open a video called ” “move your cucu” Very bad virus.
DONT OPEN IT.

If the warning rings a bell, that’s no surprise since almost all of the warning is identical to some popular past versions of the same hoax, only this time the video virus was apparently called “Dance of the Pope”, which itself spawned another permutation where the video virus was called “Dance of the Hillary”. Then later another similar warning circulating on WhatsApp with the video now changing names once again to “Martinelli”.


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Now it’s “move your cucu” whatever that is supposed to mean. The rest of the warning relies on the same tired template, including the false claim it “formats your mobile” and the false claim the warning appeared on the radio (and now the TV, apparently. We wonder if that was the ubiquitous “Channel 13 News“.)

And of course, just like previous incarnations, this warning is poorly worded and fails to provide pertinent information such as how this alleged virus spreads, and on which platforms, and how does one “accept a video”?

It’s another confused hoax warning, and we don’t recommend circulating it.

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