Gospel singer, Winnie Mashaba and her friends fell victim to a money scam when someone hacked into her WhatsApp account and asked for money on her behalf.
Someone who pretended to be Winnie, asked her WhatsApp contacts and close friends to send her money. At the time of the incident, Winnie was holidaying in Singapore. According to one of Winnie’s close friends who lost thousands of rand in the scam – the person pretending to be Winnie asked that she sent her money to pay for a R3 100 fine. The scammer alleged that if the money was not paid, she would lose the car. Shatadi says she parted ways with R7 800 in all.
Apparently the transitions were made through Pep Store money transfer, at the directive of the scammer. “People are robbing us. I sent my money thinking it was Winnie,” an angry Shatadi says. However, Shatadi is not the only victim.
Fashion designer, Madira Matjeke was also duped into believing that Winnie was in desperate need for cash. Madira allegedly deposited R1 500 through e-Wallet.
Speaking to DRUM, a miserable Winnie confirmed the allegations. She told us that while she was in Singapore last week someone used her WhatsApp to scam people.
“When we suspected that someone had hacked into my account I asked Vodacom to block my number. But now when I came back they said they can’t unblock it,” she explains. But hours later the number was unblocked.
“I am confused (about) who unblocked it. I don’t see why do we RICA our numbers if people still scam us,” Winnie continues.
She says some people had to double-check with her manager if it was really her who asked for the money. “Unfortunately some people lost their money. I am not okay, I don’t know what to do,” a worried Winnie says.
She revealed that she will open a case with the police, and also go to Vodaworld to lay a formal complaint.
