OCJ warns public about WhatsApp impersonator posing as Justice Zondi
The OCJ has urged the public and media to verify communications attributed to judges after WhatsApp messages were sent using Justice Dumisani Zondi’s name and likeness.
An impersonation scam targeting a senior judge in South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal has raised concerns, prompting the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) to issue a public warning. Fraudsters reportedly created a WhatsApp account under the name of Deputy President of the SCA Justice Dumisani Zondi, using his photograph and sending messages to members of the public.
The OCJ stated that the mobile number from which the messages were sent, 076 208 2834, is registered on WhatsApp as belonging to 'Justice Dumisani Zondi'. According to the OCJ, falsely representing a state of affairs, knowing it is untrue, to the detriment of another, constitutes fraud. The agency urged the public and media to report any communications, directives, articles, or social media posts purportedly from a judge for verification.
This is not the first time the OCJ has issued such a warning; in August, they reported on a fraudster impersonating Acting Judge President Zamani Nhlangulela of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court through WhatsApp, also using photographs and numbers registered in the judge's name.
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