Johannesburg - Stop the presses! That email you got from Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan twice this week is a hoax.
That juicy $9.5 million (R140m) that was supposedly waiting for you at the National Treasury doesn’t exist, and you’re not going to be an instant millionaire.
Well, at least not until that scamming prince who emailed you last week processes your banking details and pays you back the money you lent him to reclaim his kingdom.
It’s a scam that's as old as the internet, but the National Treasury this week once again warned the public not to believe emails that were supposedly sent personally to them by Gordhan.
Sent from the not-so-legitimate-sounding [email protected], the email states that a fund was supposed to be transferred directly to you through the Reserve Bank, and asks if you’re aware of this $9.5m claim.
“This notification stands as the first and final notice to you for you to claim your fund, and after 5 working days of this notification, if I do not hear from you, I will have no option than to declare the fund government’s fund,” the email passive-aggressively continues, clearly frustrated that you haven’t already rushed to the Reserve Bank.
It then asks for your name and address, age, occupation and cellphone number. The scammer coyly refrains from asking for your banking details until he or she has your other personal details and phones you later.
Treasury spokeswoman Phumza Macanda said the state organ was well aware of this and numerous other scams committed using the finance minister’s name, and that it was highly unlikely Gordhan would contact a person directly.
“Obviously, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Please exercise caution, and if you must, check (such claims) with our offices,” she said.
The Star