By 
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has issued a stark warning to the public regarding a surge in sophisticated social media scams involving fraudsters impersonating its Governor, Dr. John Mushayavanhu.
In an official public statement released on Sept 17 2025, the central bank alerted the nation to a proliferation of fake social media profiles that are deceptively designed to appear as the personal accounts of the esteemed Governor.
These fraudulent profiles are using stolen images and fabricated content to create a false veneer of legitimacy, aiming to deceive and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The RBZ was unequivocal in its clarification, stating,
“Be advised that the Governor does not have any social media accounts.” The Bank provided a crucial assurance for the future, noting that “when he does, these will be verified,” indicating that any legitimate future presence would be clearly marked with official verification badges from the respective social media platforms.
Despite the Bank’s efforts to report and have these fake accounts removed, the scammers persist. Their tactics are varied and malicious. The alert detailed that the scams often manifest as fake prize and lottery wins, a classic scheme that preys on victims by creating a false sense of urgency and excitement. Other methods include sophisticated phishing attacks crafted to harvest sensitive personal and financial data, and outright fraudulent pleas for money.
This warning highlights a growing global trend of cybercriminals targeting high-profile public figures to lend credibility to their schemes. By exploiting the trust and authority associated with the office of the Central Bank Governor, these bad actors seek to lower the victims’ guard.
The Reserve Bank has urged the public to exercise extreme vigilance and extreme caution. Any profile on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, or any other platform claiming to be Dr. Mushayavanhu should be considered entirely illegitimate.
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