Harare, (New Ziana) – The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has sounded the alarm over a surge in fake social media profiles fraudulently impersonating its Governor, Dr. John Mushayavanhu, in an attempt to scam unsuspecting members of the public.
In a statement, the central bank said the bogus accounts are deliberately crafted to look authentic, often using stolen images of the Governor to mislead people. The RBZ stressed that Dr. Mushayavanhu does not currently operate social media accounts. Should he decide to do so, they will be verified and publicly announced.
“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) would like to alert the public of a proliferation of fake social media profiles fraudulently posing as the Governor, Dr. John Mushayavanhu. Be advised that the Governor does not have any social media accounts and when he does, these will be verified,” said the apex bank, adding that these fraudulent accounts are designed to appear legitimate, and can be used to push scams such as fake prize and lottery wins, phishing schemes that seek to steal personal and financial details, and false pleas for money.
Although the bank says it has reported the fake profiles to the respective platforms, it is urging the public to remain vigilant and exercise extreme caution. “All official communication from the Governor’s Office is disseminated exclusively through the official RBZ website and verified Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe social media platforms,” the bank said.
The rise of online impersonation scams mirrors a broader regional and global trend, where cybercriminals exploit the credibility of high-profile figures to trick people into parting with sensitive information or hard-earned money.
The RBZ encouraged citizens to report suspicious accounts and to avoid engaging with or sharing any content from pages purporting to be run by the Governor.
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