ERMELO – A local businessman lost R3 000 after a scammer impersonating Gert Sibande District Mayor Walter Mngomezulu contacted him via WhatsApp.

The scammer used Mngomezulu’s name and profile photograph and initially requested approximately R30 000 in sponsorship for less privileged children.

When the businessman explained that his sponsorship funds had been exhausted for the financial year, the person claiming to be the mayor later returned, saying they had managed to collect a large portion of the money, but still required R3 000.

The businessman made the payment after further pleading from the purported mayor.

It was subsequently established that the cellphone number used did not belong to Mngomezulu.

The incident has raised concerns that other businesses could be targeted similarly, particularly as Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM) email addresses have also reportedly been used in scams.

This is not the first time scammers have used the municipality’s identity in attempts to defraud people.

As reported by the Highvelder on September 1, GSDM issued an urgent security warning after suspicious phishing emails were sent from email addresses belonging to employees Jabu Magagula and Skhumbuzo Manana.

The emails, which also reached recipients outside the municipality, prompted the municipality to warn recipients not to open them, click on links, open attachments, scan QR codes or provide personal or login information.

Read the complete article in Highvelder’s printed edition.