With just 7 days remaining before the South African provincial and national elections, the countdown sparks intensified door-to-door campaigns and social media efforts by various political parties.
Simultaneously, cybercriminals are unleashing their fraudulent schemes and criminal agendas, aiming to illegally profit while politicians seek votes.
IEC CEO, Sy Mamabolo. Image source: IEC
The IEC- Independent Electoral Commission warns South Africans of an impostor impersonating its CEO- Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, on WhatsApp. The Commission first became aware of this impostor earlier today, on May 19, 2024.
Potential damage to the organisation
The Commission strongly condemns this impersonation, as it has the potential to damage the reputation of the institution and undermine its preparations for the imminent 2024 NPE- National and Provincial Elections.
The impostor is active on WhatsApp using two numbers: A WhatsApp business account with the CEO’s profile image and another private account for someone named “Moloi (IEC IT SPECIALIST)” who claims to represent CEO Mamabolo. In at least one incident, they have conversed with an unsuspecting provincial leader of a political party, purporting to arrange unlawful conduct related to the forthcoming elections’ outcomes.
Monetary gain through manipulating NPE outcomes
The scam aims for monetary gain by manipulating the outcomes of the 2024 NPE in favor of the targeted recipient. The Commission emphasizes that due to inherent controls and safeguards in the electoral process, such an arrangement is impossible.
The Electoral Commission urges political candidates and the public to contact the Commission to verify any information if they are contacted by anyone claiming to be CEO Mamabolo and, if necessary, report the matter to SAPS- South African Police Service.
Source: IECThe post IEC Warns of Imposter Posing as its CEO on WhatsApp first appeared on IT News Africa | Business Technology, Telecoms and Startup News.