Bizarre “reality check” notes land in Dingley Village letterboxes, spark COVID-19 conspiracy debate
An anonymous author has sparked a COVID-19 conspiracy debate among Dingley Village residents after letters containing wild accusations were dropped in letterboxes.
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Bizarre letters containing wild claims about the coronavirus outbreak and other conspiracies have been dropped in letterboxes across Dingley Village.
The notes titled “2020 reality check Australia” and with no author signature were delivered to residents this week, with concerning facts sparking hot debate on social media.
There are 17 dot points on the letter, which range from concerning claims regarding welfare and suicide rates through to accusations that Australian charities stole bushfire relief donations.
“More than half the (Australian) population is taking prescription drugs for depression … the suicide rate is currently 530 per cent of what it was this time last year,” the author claims.
“People are being banned from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for sharing or talking about government conspiracies … my neighbour’s friend is a lesbian (and) has a 10-year-old son who thinks he’s a girl and is about to start taking puberty blockers to stop his maturing.
“The government is already drawing up plans to legally exclude people who refuse (coronavirus) vaccine injections from work, shopping, school, travel and regular social life.”
Dozens of Dingley Village Community Facebook members slammed the claimed truths, while others welcomed the unpopular opinion.
“Written by a conspiracy nutter … no actually, a homophobic conspiracy nutter,” one person said.
“The one thing this pandemic has shown me is I underestimated how many actual deadset morons there are in my local area. Won’t make that mistake again,” another wrote.
“Do your own research and make your own minds … good to see someone in Dingley has done this,” another said.
“Well done to the person that is trying to awake the sleepy heads,” another wrote.
The strange notes come after alarming conspiracy theory pamphlets claiming coronavirus was “a scam” were dropped into hundreds of letterboxes throughout Elwood, Elsternwick, Brighton and Beaumaris last week.
“There is no pandemic and a few benefit from many suffering by believing there is,” the linked website site said.
In July, fake signs purportedly from Kingston Council — which covers the Dingley Village region — urged children to use play equipment as their “best defence” against the virus.
The signs included a phony signature from Mayor Georgina Oxley and claimed it was OK for children to use play equipment even though playgrounds are shut.
And in May, police were investigating fake letters that were given to residents in a Mentone apartment block claiming to be from the Department of Health.
“This letter is to advise you all that a resident in this building has tested positive for CoronaVirus (sic) and that precaution measures are to adhere to those living with in the confines of this building,” the letter read.
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au
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