Kampala – In a concerning development, fraudsters have escalated their tactics by impersonating prominent Ugandan businessman Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, sending fraudulent messages to people within his network.
These messages falsely claim that Dr. Sudhir is requesting assistance in purchasing gift cards, leveraging his reputation to deceive potential victims.
The scam involves impersonators using Dr. Sudhir’s profile picture and sending messages via WhatsApp. These messages claim that the tycoon is tied up in meetings and unable to purchase gift cards himself.
The fraudsters then request that the recipient purchase Razer Gold gift cards worth $50 (UGX 188,304) and send the codes to a specific number, under the pretense of helping Dr. Sudhir secure a business deal with prospects.
The messages are convincing, with the scammers even directing victims to a legitimate-looking website to purchase the gift cards, adding to the credibility of the ruse.
However, once the gift card codes are shared, the fraudsters vanish, leaving victims out of pocket and with no means to reclaim their money.
A recent alert was raised by someone within Dr. Sudhir’s circle who received one of these fraudulent messages, recognizing the scam before falling victim.
The individual immediately notified others to be cautious, stating, “Fraud callers are using my name… someone called from this number and sent this correspondence claiming it is you. He has used your profile picture.”
Authorities are urging anyone receiving similar messages to remain vigilant and to avoid engaging with such requests.
Fraudsters often target high-profile individuals and their associates, knowing that their requests may be trusted without question.
In light of this incident, friends, business associates, and members of the public are encouraged to verify any unusual requests, especially those involving financial transactions.
Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia and his team are reportedly working to address the situation and prevent further attempts to exploit his name for criminal activities.
For those who believe they may have been targeted by this scam, it is advised to report the incident to the authorities and block the fraudulent numbers.