As South Africa gears up for the provincial and national elections with only a week left, political campaigns intensify, and with them, cybercriminals see an opportune moment to engage in deceitful activities.
Among the flurries of digital engagement, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has flagged a serious fraudulent act, an impostor is posing as Sy Mamabolo, the IEC’s Chief Electoral Officer, on WhatsApp. This alarming development surfaced on May 19, and became more alarming today, May 23, 2024, as reported by the Commission.
The IEC Rejects Impersonation Acts:
The IEC has vehemently decried this impersonation, citing the significant risk it poses to the Commission’s standing and the integrity of their electoral processes for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections (NPE).
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The counterfeit figure is operating under two separate numbers, one is a WhatsApp business account featuring the real CEO, Mamabolo’s photo and another that purports to be an IEC IT Specialist named “Moloi.”
Alarmingly, this imposter had interactions with a high-ranking political party member in a province under the guise of coordinating illegal activities aimed at influencing the election results.
The aim of this deception seeks financial advantage by promising altered election outcomes to the unsuspecting victims.
The IEC has underscored that such fraudulent undertakings are rendered futile by the comprehensive safeguards built into the electoral system.
The Commission has called on electoral candidates and the general populace to validate any correspondence or claims from individuals asserting to be CEO Mamabolo.
Furthermore, the IEC recommends that any suspicious interactions should be reported to the South African Police Service for investigation.
Source: IEC
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