The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) said that it is aware of fake news involving a scam which claims to be ‘recalling’ money from the public.
Public warning from the SA Reserve Bank:
DO NOT hand over cash to anyone claiming that it is contaminated with COVID-19.
A thread
— SA Reserve Bank (@SAReserveBank) March 16, 2020
The Reseve Bank said in a statement on 16 March that it believed that criminals, with fake SARB identification, are visiting the homes of members of the public requesting them to hand in their notes and coins because they are contaminated with COVID-19. “They provide false receipts in lieu of the banknotes ‘collected’ which they purport can be collected from any of the banks.”
The SA Reserve Bank has not withdrawn any banknotes or coins or issued any instruction to hand in banknotes or coins that may be contaminated with the COVID-19 virus. The SARB will NOT, under any circumstances, send employees or representatives to collect cash from the public.
— SA Reserve Bank (@SAReserveBank) March 16, 2020
According to the SARB, there currently is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus is transmitted through banknotes and coins. “The SARB encourages members of the public to contact local police when they are approached by individuals purporting to be SARB employees or representatives.”
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