Warning Issued Against Fraudulent Account Impersonating Morocco’s Prime Minister
The Moroccan Office of the Head of Government has alerted citizens about a fraudulent X account impersonating Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to promote a fake cryptocurrency. This warning follows a similar fraud case reported by Bank Al-Maghrib, where scammers misused the bank’s identity for a fake investment platform. Both institutions are urging vigilance and planning protective measures against digital impersonation as the cryptocurrency landscape evolves in Morocco.
Recently, the Office of the Head of Government in Morocco has issued a warning regarding a fraudulent X account impersonating Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch. This account has been promoting a non-existent Moroccan cryptocurrency, leading officials to take action to protect citizens from potential scams. The office emphasized that the only legitimate account for the Head of Government is @ChefGov_ma.
This warning follows a similar incident highlighted by Bank Al-Maghrib, Morocco’s central bank, which reported that scammers had created false media content misusing its identity and the likeness of its Governor. This fraudulent content promoted a fictitious investment platform promising guaranteed returns, prompting a strong response from both the Head of Government’s office and the bank to maintain the integrity of their communications.
In light of these impersonation attempts, Akhannouch’s office has urged citizens and social media users to remain vigilant against fake accounts and rely only on information from official sources. The central bank has also indicated its intention to pursue legal action to protect its identity from fraudulent exploitations. These events underscore an alarming trend of sophisticated digital fraud targeting Moroccan governmental entities.
The cryptocurrency landscape in Morocco has been evolving significantly in recent years. Following a total ban on cryptocurrency transactions imposed in 2017 due to concerns such as money laundering, more than 3.5 million Moroccans had nevertheless begun investing in digital currencies by 2019. As of 2023, Morocco emerged as the 13th highest Bitcoin-using nation worldwide.
Additionally, Chainalysis has ranked Morocco 20th in its global crypto index, illustrating the country’s growing engagement in the digital financial realm despite regulatory challenges. By the start of 2024, the number of Moroccan cryptocurrency holders is expected to reach approximately 6 million, indicating about 16% of the population, with plans for a comprehensive regulatory framework to be introduced by Bank Al-Maghrib Governor Abdellatif Jouahri by the year’s end.
In summary, the emergence of fraudulent impersonation attempts on social media platforms poses a serious threat to the integrity of government communications in Morocco. While Morocco’s engagement in cryptocurrency has seen substantial growth despite prior prohibitions, the trend of digital scams highlights the need for heightened vigilance among citizens. Both the Head of Government and Bank Al-Maghrib are actively working to combat these fraudulent activities and protect their respective identities.
Original Source: www.moroccoworldnews.com
