In a worrying development, scammers have ramped up their efforts by impersonating renowned Ugandan businessman Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, using fraudulent tactics to prey on people within his network.
The fraudsters are sending deceptive WhatsApp messages, pretending to be Dr Sudhir and requesting assistance in purchasing gift cards—a scheme designed to exploit his good name and reputation.
The modus operandi is cunning and highly convincing. Using Dr Sudhir’s profile picture, the impersonators craft messages claiming the businessman is preoccupied with important meetings and urgently needs help to buy Razer Gold gift cards worth $50 (approximately UGX 188,304). They insist the gift cards are necessary for closing an ongoing business deal and request that recipients purchase them and forward the codes to a specific number.
To enhance their credibility, the scammers often direct victims to a professional-looking website for purchasing gift cards. Once victims share the gift card codes, the fraudsters disappear, leaving the victims defrauded and without any recourse to recover their money.
This scam came to light when someone close to Dr. Sudhir identified the fraudulent messages before becoming a victim. The individual quickly issued a warning to others, stating, “Fraud callers are impersonating Dr. Sudhir. I received a message from someone using his profile picture, requesting me to make a gift card purchase. Please be cautious.”
Authorities are sounding the alarm and urging the public to stay vigilant. The scammers are capitalising on the trust that people have in high-profile figures like Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, hoping that individuals will respond to these requests without suspicion.
If you receive any suspicious messages purportedly from Dr. Sudhir or any other prominent individual, be sure to scrutinise the content. Avoid engaging or sharing any personal or financial information. Verify such requests directly with the person in question or through official channels.
Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia and his team are actively working to curb the exploitation of his identity and are calling on the public to exercise caution. If you suspect you have been targeted by this scam, report the incident to the authorities and block the fraudulent numbers immediately. By staying alert, you can help prevent these scammers from succeeding in their deceitful schemes.
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