Viral Claim: Images of dummy fingers are viral on the social media with a caption, Fake fingers being made for casting votes, I don’t know where we are going?

Facts Check: Fake

Viral News in Social Media Twitter / Facebook / WhatsApp / Others Examples:

పోలింగ్ అధికారులు జాగ్రత్త ! వేలు బాగా లాగి చూచి గుర్తు వెయ్యండి. Fake Fingers వచ్చేశాయి. దొంగ ఓట్లు వెయ్యడానికి !

పోలింగ్  అధికారులు జాగ్రత్త !  వేలు బాగా లాగి చూచి గుర్తు వెయ్యండి. Fake Fingers వచ్చేశాయి. దొంగ ఓట్లు వెయ్యడానికి ! #ceotelangana @ElectionsMv @arvindkumar_ias sir @CommissionrGHMC @GHMCOnline pic.twitter.com/GAPVTiALan

— Uday Kumar Yadav (@udayyadav7369) April 10, 2019

For fake voting... Fingers caught in Hyderabad!! 😳😳😳😳😳👇🏻

For fake voting... Fingers caught in Hyderabad!! 😳😳😳😳😳👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/vgFcAZpspa

— 🇮🇳 चौकीदार👀मुमुक्षु 🇮🇳 (@Pratyangira1) April 10, 2019

New trick for fake voteing. @ArvindKejriwal @SanjayAzadSln @AAPInNews @msisodia @ajitanjum @ravishndtv pic.twitter.com/7LNBNWqs32

— चोर चौकीदार (Chor Chowkidar) (@ajaydhiman_AAP) February 20, 2017

*Beware*

Fake fingers being made for casting votes, I don’t know where we are going?
                     👇 pic.twitter.com/libjXf15f6

— #CutOutTheCrap (@watdehel) April 10, 2019

Facts Check News: The Image of dummy cropped fingers is actually old. On searching for the actual news on the social media and Google we came across a tweet by former Dr. S.Y.Quraishi.  Dr Quraishihas tweeted a post on 2017 stating someone sent this.

Someone sent this! pic.twitter.com/bnwRZLSLiL

— Dr. S.Y. Quraishi (@DrSYQuraishi) February 20, 2017

Many users of the social media pointed out and asked Dr. S.Y Quaraishi, do not believe on such fake news and said prosthetic fingers help reform Yakuza Members.

.@DrSYQuraishi Dear Kejri fan sir, stop believing WhatsApp forwards from AAPtards.. pic.twitter.com/YXhsemmdZ2

— Srcsmst (@srcsmst) February 21, 2017

Few replied asking, “dear @DrSYQuraishi r u really ex EC?..u cant mislead ppl on social media.. .. .. Japanese gangs was using this tricks got busted ..”

dear @DrSYQuraishi r u really ex EC?..u cant mislead ppl on social media.. .. .. Japanese gangs was using this tricks got busted .. pic.twitter.com/hSXzYdJAze

— Chowkidar NayaN (@nayanchandra) February 22, 2017

As per abcnews, In Japan, a stunted pinkie signifies membership in the yakuza or Japanese mafia. In a ritual known as "yubitsume," yakuza members are required to chop off their own digits to atone for serious offenses. The left pinkie is usually the first to go, though repeated offenses call for further severing. As a result, those who get out, have a hard time finding work because of the stigma attached to those missing fingers.

The increasing demand for prosthetic pinkies coincides with an aggressive push to crack down on the yakuza. Gang member numbers have steadily declined since the Anti-Organized Crime Law went into effect in 1992. But there are still more than 70,000 gang members, according to the National Police Agency. In recent years, police have clamped down on cash flows, gang activities, and passed measures aimed at pressuring legitimate businesses to cut ties with the mob.