The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is urgently warning the public of a dangerous deception stemming from a flood of fake social media accounts impersonating its governor, Dr. John Mushayavanhu.
The central bank issued a stark statement saying Dr. Mushayavanhu has no personal social media accounts, and any profile claiming to be him is operated by scammers.
“The Governor does not have any social media accounts, and when he does, the RBZ will publish the verified handles,” the bank said in its statement.
This warning highlights a sophisticated and globally prevalent scam often referred to as "VIP impersonation" or "deepfake fraud." Typically, these fraudulent accounts are used to:
Solicit fraudulent investments or foreign currency deals.
Offer fake grants or "COVID-style" relief funds** that require an upfront "processing fee.
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Spread false market-sensitive information to manipulate exchange rates or stock prices for profit.
Phish for personal information to commit identity theft.
The RBZ has cautioned that engaging with these accounts "advances the interests of criminals."
All official communication from the governor’s office is exclusively released through these verified channels:
X: @ReserveBankZIM
Facebook: ReserveBankZIM
WhatsApp Channel: Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
The bank urges both the public and media to always cross-check any financial offer or statement directly through these legitimate platforms before taking any action.
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