Is there a government program that is erasing debts for Americans with more than $10,000 in debt? No, that's not true: A video that implies that there is a government program in which Americans can receive such debt relief is just an advertisement. Lead Stories has debunked a similarly misleading ad before.
The claim appeared in a video posted to Facebook on May 24, 2022. The video was titled "Over 10k in debts can now be erased!" The caption reads:
I just got $21,389 in debts removed from my credit reports thanks to the new Debt Relief Program the USA just approved. Click the link below to get your debt removed now!
This is what the post looked like on Facebook at the time of writing:
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Wed Jun 8 21:24:33 2022 UTC)
The link attached to the video leads viewers to dailynewpackages.com, a website that seems to advertise supposed government programs that Americans may "qualify" for -- if they answer a few questions. Here's what the viewers see when they open the link:
(Source: dailynewpackages.com screenshot taken on Wed Jun 8 21:48:02 2022 UTC)
The link included a disclaimer that read in part:
THIS IS AN ADVERTORIAL AND NOT AN ACTUAL NEWS ARTICLE, BLOG, OR CONSUMER PROTECTION UPDATE. We are dedicated to bringing readers valuable information which can help them accomplish their financial and lifestyle goals. Our disclaimer is that this site does receive compensation for product reviews and referrals or purchases made through our links. This page is an advertisement/advertorial. The story depicted here is for demonstration purposes only and everyone's results may vary.
A screenshot of the full disclaimer is included below:
(Source: dailynewpackages.com screenshot taken on Wed Jun 8 21:50:38 2022 UTC)
There is no so-called "Debt Relief Program" that will erase all debts owed by Americans with more than $10,000 of debt. A government resource explaining how to deal with debt does not mention a program that would wipe Americans' slates clean. An article from Debt.com titled "Are There Government Debt Relief Programs Out There?" does explain that there are government programs that can assist with paying off debt related to taxes or student loans. However, when it comes to credit, the article states plainly:
One type of debt that the government doesn't offer relief for is credit card debt. There is no government program that forgives or even minimizes the burden of paying off your credit card balances.
Lead Stories previously debunked a claim that CNN had a news report on April 22, 2022, about a program that could earn Americans up to $50,000. The fake news report was fabricated and was used in an advertisement for personalloanpro.com, a loan company.
Lead Stories also found other advertisements that hint about relief programs, such as this one, another personalloanpro.com advertisement.
