BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office has issued a strong warning to emaSwati against a fraudulent Facebook account and cloned voice recordings falsely claiming to represent Deputy Prime Minister Senator Thulisile Dladla.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Office revealed that scammers are using a fake Facebook page and an AI-generated voice purporting to be that of the Deputy Prime Minister to deceive members of the public into depositing E5,000 into an alleged housing initiative for vulnerable elderly citizens.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office clarified that the programme being promoted is not legitimate and stressed that Senator Thulisile Dladla does not operate a Facebook account in either her personal or official capacity.
Authorities have urged emaSwati to remain vigilant and to verify information before responding to online requests for money. Members of the public have also been encouraged to report any suspicious communication or approaches linked to the fake account to the Royal Eswatini Police Service.
The Office said all official information, assistance programmes and public announcements are communicated through authorised government channels and verified communication platforms.
The warning comes as technology-driven scams continue to emerge globally, with fraudsters increasingly using cloned voices and fake social media profiles to impersonate public figures and gain the trust of unsuspecting victims.
Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and the protection of citizens from fraudulent activities. The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office further encouraged emaSwati to exercise caution when interacting with social media accounts claiming to represent senior government officials.
The Office emphasised that public vigilance remains a key defence against cybercrime and online fraud, urging citizens to disregard and report any suspicious messages linked to the fake Facebook page.
#DPMScamWarning #AIVoiceScam #FakeFacebookAccount #CyberSecurity #ProtectingEmaSwati
