Subscribe

Facebook scam fakes minister's profile

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 22 Aug 2014
Scammers use social media to initiate contact with users, before sending bogus e-mails.
Scammers use social media to initiate contact with users, before sending bogus e-mails.

Government has distanced itself from social media profiles claiming the identity of finance minister Nhlanhla Nene as part of new scams.

According to the finance ministry, numerous Facebook accounts using the minister's name and photographs engage users as part of their attempts to swindle money.

The department released the following statement today:

"The Ministry of Finance would like to warn the public about a number of Facebook accounts which purport to be those of the minister of finance, Nhlanhla Nene. These accounts are part of ongoing attempts to con the public, both in South Africa and abroad, of their hard-earned money.

"These include bogus letters or e-mails which purport to be from the ministry and associated institutions. The ministry condemns the use of the minister's name and photographs, and reiterates that such scams can only succeed to the extent that members of the public fall for them because of their unquenchable thirst for easy money."

Fake Twitter presence

This is not the first time Nene's name has been used in bogus social media profiles. Shortly after president Jacob Zuma announced his new Cabinet in May, government urged the public to ignore Twitter user @NhlanhlaNeneZA and lambasted the person running the profile.

"Government calls on those establishing these accounts to desist from impersonating government leaders and using these valuable communication platforms to try to confuse the people of South Africa," said a statement issued by the Government Communications and Information System.

The account - which has since been deleted - had amassed 3 700 followers in 20 hours since its first tweet. Government advised the public to use official departmental Web sites to access official social media account information.

Share