Scammers use coronavirus to trick fearful South Africans
South Africa’s central bank has warned citizens against scammers visiting homes to “recall” banknotes and coins they said were contaminated with the novel coronavirus. The criminals carried fake identification badges and provided false receipts to victims, who were told they could exchange the slips for “clean” cash at any bank The bank said in a statement issued late Monday that it had “neither withdrawn any banknotes or coins nor issued any instruction to hand in banknotes or coins that may be contaminated”.
“There currently is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus is transmitted through the use of banknotes and coins,” said the statement. Tricksters took advantage of nervous citizens on Monday, as many people remained home and rushed to supermarkets to stock up on groceries.
South Africa’s biggest private healthcare provider Netcare warned that thieves, masquerading as doctors screening for coronavirus, were going round trying to gain access into people’s homes.
Public warning from the SA Reserve Bank:
DO NOT hand over cash to anyone claiming that it is contaminated with COVID-19.
A thread
— SA Reserve Bank (@SAReserveBank) March 16, 2020
Criminals are going to homes in various areas claiming to be from Netcare… with door-to-door screening for COVID-19,” said a statement by the Netcare group.
Media Statement: Netcare are NOT doing door-to-door COVID-19 screening.https://t.co/XdrCf3D2V4 pic.twitter.com/VfaT7IMZ7w
— Netcare 911 (@Netcare911_sa) March 16, 2020
Please note that staff… are not doing door-to-door COVID-19 screening.
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Last night was the moment many fashionistas had been waiting for. As the season finale of Somizi & Mohale: The Union aired on Showmax, we finally found out what Somizi Mhlongo wore with all those “red bottoms” he teased on Instagram ahead of his white wedding.
Somizi and his husband, Mohale Motaung, opted to wear the iconic scarlet-soled shoes by designer Christian Louboutin for their big day — and famously requested that their guests did too. Read more
Source: eNCA
