#FactCheck-Viral Video of 'Melted' Traffic Signal in Europe Shared with False Heatwave Claim
Executive Summary
A video showing a completely melted traffic signal is going viral on social media. Users sharing the clip claim that an unprecedented and historic heatwave in European countries like Italy, Spain, France, and Germany has become so severe that modern infrastructure—including traffic lights—is literally melting under the sun However, factual research by the CyberPeace Research Wing reveals that this claim is false. The traffic signal did not melt due to weather conditions; it was damaged by a nearby car fire in Italy.
The Claim
On June 30, 2026, an Instagram user named 'khabribhaiyaa' shared the video with a caption stating:"Many European countries are currently in the grip of an unprecedented and historic heatwave. Temperatures in countries like Italy and Germany have neared 40 degree forcing authorities to issue red alerts. The situation is so bad that modern infrastructure is buckling under this deadly heat. Images and reports from the streets are shocking; traffic lights are melting and dripping due to the extreme heat. Not only this, but paved roads and highways are warping due to excessive temperatures, bringing traffic to a standstill. Additionally, railway tracks and other critical infrastructure are suffering heavy damage."
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaMpGhjG7h4
https://perma.cc/STD7-75S9?type=standard
To verify the viral claim, we extracted keyframes from the video and ran a Google Lens search. This led us to a report published on June 28, 2026, by the Italian website 'ilbacodaseta'. The building structure visible in the background of the website's featured photo directly matched the backdrop of the viral video.
https://www.ilbacodaseta.org/lugagnano-auto-in-fiamme-al-semaforo-paura-in-via-26-aprile/#google_vignette
Furthermore, we cross-referenced the spot on Google Maps, confirming that the location perfectly matches the visuals seen in the viral clip.
A report by 'tgverona' regarding the same car accident was also shared on Facebook by wrestling referee Johnny Puttini, further verifying that the damage was the result of an accidental fire, not atmospheric heatwaves.
Conclusion
The claim that European heatwaves are melting traffic lights is False. The viral video shows a traffic signal in Lugagnano, Italy, that melted in June 2026 due to a car fire right beneath it. It has nothing to do with the summer temperature or climate conditions.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary:
A manipulated viral photo of a Maldivian building with an alleged oversized portrait of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the words "SURRENDER" went viral on social media. People responded with fear, indignation, and anxiety. Our research, however, showed that the image was manipulated and not authentic.
Claim:
A viral image claims that the Maldives displayed a huge portrait of PM Narendra Modi on a building front, along with the phrase “SURRENDER,” implying an act of national humiliation or submission.
Fact Check:
After a thorough examination of the viral post, we got to know that it had been altered. While the image displayed the same building, it was wrong to say it included Prime Minister Modi’s portrait along with the word “SURRENDER” shown in the viral version. We also checked the image with the Hive AI Detector, which marked it as 99.9% fake. This further confirmed that the viral image had been digitally altered.
During our research, we also found several images from Prime Minister Modi’s visit, including one of the same building displaying his portrait, shared by the official X handle of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The post mentioned “His Excellency Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi was warmly welcomed by His Excellency President Dr.@MMuizzu at Republic Square, where he was honored with a Guard of Honor by #MNDF on his state visit to Maldives.” This image, captured from a different angle, also does not feature the word “surrender.
Conclusion:
The claim that the Maldives showed a picture of PM Modi with a surrender message is incorrect and misleading. The image is altered and is being spread to mislead people and stir up controversy. Users should check the authenticity of photos before sharing.
- Claim: Viral image shows the Maldives mocking India with a surrender sign
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
Executive Summary:
In the digital world, people are becoming targets more and more of online scams, which rely on deception. One of the ways the social media is being used for the elections in recent time, is the "BJP - Election Bonus" offer that promises a cash prize of Rs. 5000 or more, through some easy questionnaire. This article provides the details of this swindle and reveals its deceptive tricks as well as gives a set of recommendations on how to protect yourself from such online fraud, especially during the upcoming elections.
False Claim:
The "BJP - Election Bonus" campaign boasts that by taking a few clicks of the mouse, users will get a cash prize. This scheme is nothing but a fake association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Government and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and therefore, it uses the images and brands of both of them to give the scheme an impression of legitimacy. The imposters are taking advantage of the public's trust for the Government and the widespread desire for remuneration to ensnare the unaware victims, specifically before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The Deceptive Scheme:
- Tempting Social Media Offer: The fraud begins with an attractive link on the social media platforms. The scammers say that the proposal is related to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with the caption of “The official party has prepared many gifts for their supporters.” accompanied by an image of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
- Luring with Money: The offer promises to give Rs.5,000 or more. This is aimed at drawing in people specifically during election campaigns; and people’s desire for financial gain.
- Tricking with Questions: When the link is clicked, the person is brought to the page with the simple questions. The purpose of these questions is to make people feel safe and believe that they have been selected for an actual government’s program.
- The Open-the-Box Trap: Finally, the questions are answered and the last instruction is to open-the-box for the prize. However, this is just a tactic for them to make you curious about the reward.
- Fake Reward and Spreading the Scam: Upon opening the box, the recipient will be greeted with the text of Rs. 5000. However, this is not true; it is just a way to make them share the link on WhatsApp, helping the scammers to reach more victims.
The fraudsters use political party names and the Prime Minister's name to increase the plausibility of it, although there is no real connection. They employ the people's desire for monetary help, and also the time of the elections, making them susceptible to their tricks.
Analytical Breakdown:
- The campaign is a cleverly-created scheme to lure people by misusing the trust they have in the Government. By using BJP's branding and the Prime Minister's photo, fraudsters aim to make their misleading offer look credible. Fake reviews and cash reward are the two main components of the scheme that are intended to lure users into getting involved, and the end result of this is the path of deception.
- Through sharing the link over WhatsApp, users become unaware accomplices that are simply assisting the scammers to reach an even bigger audience and hence their popularity, especially with the elections around the corner.
- On top of this, the time of committing this fraud is very disturbing, as the election is just round the corner. Scammers do this in the context of the political turmoil and the spread of unconfirmed rumors and speculation about the upcoming elections in the same way they did earlier. The fraudsters are using this strategy to take advantage of the political affiliations by linking their scam to the Political party and their Leaderships.
- We have also cross-checked and as of now there is no well established and credible source or any official notification that has confirmed such an offer advertised by the Party.
- Domain Analysis: The campaign is hosted on a third party domain, which is different from the official website, thus creating doubts. Whois information reveals that the domain has been registered not long ago. The domain was registered on 29th march 2024, just a few days back.
- Domain Name: PSURVEY[.]CYOU
- Registry Domain ID: D443702580-CNIC
- Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.hkdns.hk
- Registrar URL: http://www.hkdns.hk
- Updated Date: 2024-03-29T16:18:00.0Z
- Creation Date: 2024-03-29T15:59:17.0Z (Recently Created)
- Registry Expiry Date: 2025-03-29T23:59:59.0Z
- Registrant State/Province: Anhui
- Registrant Country: CN (China)
- Name Server: NORMAN.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
- Name Server: PAM.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
Note: Cybercriminals used Cloudflare technology to mask the actual IP address of the fraudulent website.
CyberPeace Advisory and Best Practices:
- Be careful and watchful for any offers that seem too good to be true online, particularly during election periods. Exercise caution at a high level when you come across such offers, because they are usually accompanied by dishonest schemes.
- Carefully cross-check the authenticity of every campaign or offer you’re considering before interacting with it. Do not click on suspicious links and do not share private data that can be further used to run the scam.
- If you come across any such suspicious activity or if you feel you have been scammed, report it to the relevant authorities, such as the local police or the cybercrime section. Reporting is one of the most effective instruments to prevent the spread of these misleading schemes and it can support the course of the investigations.
- Educate yourselves and your families on the usual scammers’ tricks, including their election-related strategies. Prompt people to think critically and a good deal of skepticism when they meet online offers and promotions that evoke a possibility to obtain money or rewards easily.
- Ensure that you are always on a high level of alert as you explore the digital field, especially during elections. The authenticity of the information you encounter should always be verified before you act on it or pass it over to someone else.
- In case you have any doubt or worry regarding a certain e-commerce offer or campaign, don’t hesitate to ask for help from reliable sources such as Cybersecurity experts or Government agencies. A consultation with credible sources will assist you in coming up with informed decisions and guarding yourself against being navigated by these schemes.
Conclusion:
The "BJP - Election Bonus" campaign is a real case study of how Internet fraud is becoming more popular day by day, particularly before the elections. Through the awareness of the tactics employed by these scammers and their abuse of the community's trust in the Government and political figures, we can equip ourselves and our communities to avert becoming the victim of such fraudulent schemes. As a team, we can collectively strive for a digital environment free of threats and breaches of security, even in times of high political tension that accompany elections.
Executive Summary
A video circulating on social media falsely claims to show West Bengal leader Suvendu Adhikari making inflammatory and communal remarks. In the viral clip, he is allegedly heard saying that if elected, his party would “work only for Hindus” and “eliminate the 27% Muslim population in West Bengal,” while also claiming that the BJP would remain in power for over 100 years. CyberPeace Research Wing research found that the viral video, which allegedly shows West Bengal leader Suvendu Adhikari making a statement about eliminating the Muslim population in West Bengal to ensure long-term BJP rule, is AI-generated and not real.
Claim
An X user (@Naira_Seth1) shared the clip alleging it reflects “majoritarian extremism disguised as politics,” suggesting that Suvendu Adhikari made communally charged and unconstitutional statements.
Fact Check
A detailed analysis of the video shows clear signs of manipulation. The person appearing in the latter part of the clip does not match Suvendu Adhikari.
Additionally, the video was tested using an AI detection tool (Hive Moderation), which indicated a 98.8% probability of AI-generated content, particularly around the 0:25 timestamp.
Further verification through reverse image search of key frames led to an original press byte of Suvendu Adhikari posted by PTI News on May 6. In that authentic video, he is seen speaking about taking strict legal action against criminals, with no mention of any religious community or communal statements.
https://x.com/PTI_News/status/2052020784152068114?s=20
Conclusion
The viral video allegedly showing Suvendu Adhikari making communal remarks is AI-generated and misleading. The original footage confirms that no such statements were made, and the clip has been digitally manipulated to spread misinformation.
