A viral video is circulating of a young woman telling people how they can get a free iPhone from the government if they fall below a certain household income.
While this immediately sounds like a scam or some kind of joke, AnnaBelle Calypso – the woman sharing this information – posted a video of her unwrapping the one she received in the mail.
She claims that the government sent her a free iPhone because she was on welfare.
“If you’re on benefits — food stamps, medicare — stay tuned,” she said in a video posted to TikTok. “In this box there should be, I don’t believe it, a free iPhone I got from AirTalk Wireless.”
She holds a small box just big enough for a phone and an accessory as she explains how she got hold of a government benefit in the form of a smartphone.
“My grandma said, ‘Don’t you have one of those government phones? Don’t you get food stamps?'” she explained. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, I used to have one and it sucked, it’s not worth it.’ “
Her grandma convinced her “for s-ts and giggles” to try and get another one, so Calypso decided to rummage through TikTok videos for information on how to get it until she finally came across AirTalk Wireless.
AirTalk Wireless gives out free iPhones and other smart devices to those who need them.
AirTalk Wireless is a program from AirVoice Wireless, LLC that works in conjunction with the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
The goal of the ACP is to provide connectivity to low-income Americans, including those participating in certain government assistance programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, and Federal Public Housing Assistance.
“Free iPhones, galaxies, tablets, things like that,” she explains. “Even if you don’t have social assistance, you can still qualify with a low income.”
She points the camera back at the box she is opening, adding that she will be “shaken” if there is actually a phone inside.
At first she only sees a charger in the box and immediately thinks the plan is fake, but upon further searching the box she found a brand new iPhone 7.
“So it’s factual. It’s true, the government gives out free iPhones and you don’t have to buy an iPhone,” she adds, describing the other products and bundles they had on the service.
Calypso’s video was viewed more than 100,000 times and hundreds of comments thanked her and asked her for more details about the situation, with some even claiming that the website was down due to the increase in traffic.
Thanks to Calypso, many people were probably able to connect and hopefully see their lives improved by the new phone.
Isaac Serna-Diez is an assistant editor focusing on entertainment and news, social justice and politics. Keep up with his rants about current events on his Twitter.