Fraudsters Impersonate Minister to Steal Private Financial Data from Public

Government officials have issued an urgent warning to the public following the discovery of a sophisticated scam involving a fictitious “national grant programme”.

Fraudsters are actively using the names of the Minister of Industry, SMEs and Cooperatives, along with several civil servants, in an attempt to trick citizens into handing over sensitive personal and financial data under the guise of a fake grant approval process.

The Ministry of Industry, SMEs and Cooperatives has categorically stated that no such approval committee exists within its SME Division, confirming that the scheme is entirely fraudulent.

Urgent Directives for the Public

Authorities have urged anyone who has already been targeted or engaged in correspondence with the suspected fraudsters to cut off all communication immediately.

Members of the public are strictly advised to:

• Refuse to complete any forms linked to the fraudulent scheme.
• Withhold all sensitive data, specifically banking details and personal documentation.
• Report any suspicious approaches to the competent authorities without delay.

Official Channels and Verification

In an official statement, the Ministry stressed that citizens must rely exclusively on official sources for any information regarding government programmes, financial aid, or specific initiatives aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises.

The public is being heavily encouraged to rigorously verify the authenticity of any unsolicited requests they receive before taking action.

Source: Defi Media