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TikTok users making money from Russia’s war in Ukraine
Grace McKinnon
Here’s what users are seeing, and why it doesn’t add up.
TikTok accounts, including several Twitch gamers, are sharing misleading information and doctored live streams in an attempt to cash in on the crisis in Ukraine.
Dozens of TikTok users are live streaming to the world allegedly from Ukraine. The scenes range from distressing to mundane and are pulling in donations for personal profit. 
Each account holder plays footage live via the platform for hours. In all videos the same sirens can be heard on repeat.
Their tactics vary from looped footage of an alleged Ukraine bunker to videos showing backyard trees.
The live streams have drawn in tens of thousands of viewers who can send in virtual ‘gifts’ via the platform which are converted to cash by the account holder.
One account, owned by Russian-speaking Twitch gamer @Imrdosl, was viewed by up to 75,000 TikTok users. Users can be seen donating hundreds of gifts in real-time.
This distressing bunker scene has also been used on a loop by several account holders. Each account drew in hundreds of gifts per hour.
Other accounts live-streamed bright sunlit trees or houses shrouded in darkness, when it did not match the time of day in Ukraine. The same siren can be heard throughout all of the videos.
One user claims the looped sound heard across all videos stems from a 10 minute 'Nuclear Alarm Siren…Russian invasion of Ukraine 2022’, uploaded to YouTube in April 2012.
User @mazay_daily can be seen pressing play on a siren sound through a second device while streaming out the window.
Meanwhile, user @helpus18 shows the YouTube video playing while playing video games online.
Other accounts remain under review.
More than 40 accounts have been found streaming with the same sound and donation tactic. As a result of the investigation 14 accounts have been permanently banned from live streaming.
We continue to closely monitor the situation, with increased resources to respond to emerging trends and remove violative content, including harmful misinformation and promotion of violence. We also partner with independent fact-checking organisations to further aid our efforts to help TikTok remain a safe and authentic place.
TikTok spokesperson
TikTok spokesperson
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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/web-stories/free/herald-sun/tiktok-users-making-money-from-the-russia-ukraine-conflict