ICYMI: ‘Imposter MEC’ scams businesses out of money

Government service providers in Mpumalanga have been warned not to fall for a trickster pretending to be the provincial agriculture minister.

The department of agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs in the province has issued a statement this week to warn food producers against a scammer trying to trick business owners into giving them money.

“The department has learned with shock of an unscrupulous and faceless scammer who reportedly call service providers with an aim to solicit money from them, pretending to be MEC Bushi Shiba.”

According to reports from the victims, an unknown woman has called several of the department’s service providers and asked, as the “MEC”, them to make payments to the department “which we do not know what for”.

Business owners or managers who do work for the department – or government in general – are warned not to fall for any caller asking them to make a deposit. “Take note that this is a scam!” the department said in no uncertain terms in its statement.

“This is pure criminality, committed by a person who preys on unsuspecting victims who conduct business with government,” says head of department Cain Chunda.

He warns all business owners and farmers that a call from a provincial minister should always be a red flag as MECs are not authorised to make calls to service providers and/or to demand payments on behalf of the department.

This is by far not the first time that alleged scammers have been targeting farmers or entrepreneurs who conduct business with agricultural departments. Scammers abounded especially during the Covid-19 lockdowns and tried to solicit relief money from struggling food producers, including relief granted under the presidential economic stimulus initiative (Pesi).

Business owners are warned to err on the side of caution and not to trust any caller demanding money while bypassing official communication and protocols with government.