DON'T fall for fake social media accounts.
The Department of Small Business Development is urging Mzansi citizens to be extra vigilant.
The fake account claims to belong to Mrs Dipuo Peters, the deputy minister of small business development.
It appears to be a well-planned scheme by fraudsters targeting small business owners by impersonating the leadership of the department.
A similar scam targeting Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams was uncovered a few weeks ago.
Cornelius Monama, spokesman for the small business development department, said the ministry has also found several fake Facebook and LinkedIn accounts purporting to belong to the deputy minister.
Monama said scammers are setting up these fake accounts with the sole aim of defrauding innocent residents and unsuspecting individuals.
ALSO READ: Matrics warned about fake institutions!
"They are exploiting the deputy minister's name and position to obtain money from poor and struggling South Africans in exchange for non-existent funding or favours for their businesses.
"The department strongly condemns the fraudulent exploitation of the Deputy Minister's identity and photographs to set up these fake accounts with the intention of defrauding innocent people, especially small business owners," he said.
Monama emphasised that the minister, deputy minister or any department official of the ministry would never accept "upfront fees" from members of the public in return for access to funds or business opportunities.
"Members of the public are asked to remain vigilant and not fall victim to these scammers. Small business owners are reminded that the department, its leaders or officials cannot facilitate or finalise funding or transactions through social media.
"The minister and deputy minister are never involved in the disbursement of funds as this is an administrative process handled by the relevant department staff," he said.
