Small business owners are urged to be aware of fake Facebook accounts claiming to belong to the Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. PICTURE: SUPPLIED
On Wednesday January 3, the Ministry of Small Business Development warned the public about a number of fake Facebook accounts, which are alleged to belong to the Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.
The ministry said to date, they have identified over 25 fake accounts that impersonate the minister.
It said in a statement that they strongly condemn the fraudulent use of the minister’s name, profile and pictures to create fake accounts. The sole intention of these accounts, according to the ministry, is to defraud and scam innocent citizens, especially small business owners.
“We would like to remind and advise all law-abiding citizens that neither Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams nor the department will ever request ‘upfront fees’ from members of the public in exchange for accessing funding or business opportunities,” according to the statement released by the Ministry of Small Business Development.
The ministry confirmed that the only legitimate Facebook account of the minister is this one: https://www.facebook.com/stella.ndabeni.”
Cornelius Monama, ministry spokesman, slammed the fraudulent exploitation of Ms Ndabeni-Abrahams identity. He encouraged the public and small business owners to be alert of fake profiles.
“The perpetrators behind these fake accounts are on a mission to deceive and defraud innocent citizens, with a particular focus on those seeking business opportunities or funding,” he told the media on Wednesday.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the public. Small business owners are the backbone of our economy, and we will not tolerate any attempts to exploit or defraud them. The ministry will collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies and social media platforms to bring these perpetrators to justice.
“We are facing a critical situation where criminals are shamelessly exploiting the trust and aspirations of small business owners. It is imperative for everyone, especially in the business community, to exercise extreme caution and report any suspicious activity.”
The ministry urged anyone who has already fallen victim to this fraudulent activity to report the matter to the police as soon as possible.
The fake accounts have already been reported to Facebook.