South Africa’s MTN Group has issued a warning about a scam targeting individuals and businesses by using the name of the telecoms group’s Chairman, Mcebisi Jonas.
The fraudsters are using the name and reputation of the MTN Group Chairman, Jonas to trick people into sending money, the telecoms group says in a statement.
This is not the first time this is happening, in April 2024, the telecoms operator alerted of a similar scam by fraudsters impersonating its group chairman via phone calls.
“The scammers,” MTN says, “typically contact victims claiming to be Mr. Jonas or someone closely associated with him. They invent elaborate scenarios, often involving financial distress or urgent situations, to create a sense of urgency and manipulate victims into sending money.
“Protect yourself: Verify the Identity. Do Not Send Money. Report Suspicious Activity.”
MTN is urging everyone to be cautious when dealing with unsolicited communication, “By working together, we can help protect ourselves and our community from these fraudulent activities. Help us beat fraud by reporting any suspicious calls or any form of communication to MTNFrontoffice@mtn.com or call 0119123000”
Mcebisi, a former Deputy Finance Minister of the Government of South Africa from 2014 to 2017, was appointed as the independent non-executive Chairman of MTN’s board of directors on June 1, 2018.
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