Viral social media posts claimed that conservative pundit Ben Shapiro created a fake Antifa recruitment website. The basis for these claims was a message in the website’s source code that reads: “Welcome to Your New Site Mr. Shapiro Check for your welcome email at bshapiro@dailywire.com.” 

That exact message was, in fact, hidden in the source code of the website. However, it was planted there by a leftist troll named Adam Rahuba, who took credit for the prank shortly after it started going viral: 

Adam Rahuba (Leader of Antifa) @adam_rahuba

Since this prank is going viral and we know he’ll spin it to play victim: - Ben Shapiro did not set up a fake Antifa site. - I thought it’d be fun to “hide” his name in the source code. - I am not acting as a part of any leftist group. - I did it because I think he’s a turd.

August 10th 2020

1,449 Retweets8,672 Likes

The website asked those who are interested in joining to give information such as name, email address, city, and phone number to register as members of Antifa. After it went viral, Rahuba altered the website to link to another tweet in which he took credit for the website:

Adam Rahuba (Leader of Antifa) @adam_rahuba

Ben Shapiro didn't create "braverthanthetroops.org." I did. I put his email in the source code to mess with him. The site was a honeypot to collect voicemails and phone numbers from far-right lunatics. And hoooo boy did it work. Turn on your sound. Maybe keep the kids away.

August 10th 2020

49 Retweets149 Likes

Shapiro, on the other hand, suggested another website which prospective-Antifa members could submit their personal information:

Ben Shapiro @benshapiro

If you want to sign up for Antifa, guys, here is where you should put all your contact information: FBI - TipsWebsite to provide tips to the FBI.tips.fbi.gov

August 10th 2020

840 Retweets7,658 Likes

Photograph by Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons.