SOUTH AFRICA – A fake Facebook page (Steers Delivery) impersonating popular South African fast-food chain Steers has been operating since 2018, misleading unsuspecting users with fake menus and enticing pricing. Despite the official Steers page addressing the issue, the imposter page has managed to gain traction, with an alarming increase in followers since December 4, 2023.
The official Steers Facebook page responded to the situation with a post, stating, “Someone’s stolen our identity. But you know where you can keep it Real? Our REAL app for REAL deals that actually make sense🙃”. This comes in response to the imposter page’s audacious attempts at deceiving customers with counterfeit offerings.
The fake page, operating under the guise of Steers Delivery, has seen a surge in followers, growing from 586 likes or 585 followers to a concerning 822 likes or 953 followers since December 4, 2023. The page’s only review, dated the same day, by Xolani Leonard Sekatane, alleges a scam involving payment for orders and delivery that never materializes.
A closer look at the fake Steers Delivery Facebook page’s transparency details reveals its creation date as November 25, 2018, with a Page ID of 269337003783547. The page is not currently running ads, and it can have multiple administrators with posting, commenting, and messaging permissions.
Upon further investigation, it has been discovered that the scam page utilizes seemingly unrelated videos as a springboard to manipulate Facebook’s algorithm and promote the page. Simultaneously, the perpetrators post fake menus and pricing that appear too good to be true, baiting hungry South Africans to place orders via Facebook Messenger.
The scam intensifies as victims are lured into making payments for food that will never arrive. The fake Steers Delivery page seems to be exploiting unsuspecting individuals who fall prey to the allure of discounted deals and irresistible offerings.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the scam page is tagged in a post from 2017 by an obviously fake personal Facebook profile containing scam links. This suggests a potential network of deceitful actors working in tandem to carry out these fraudulent activities.
As the investigation unfolds, it is crucial for South Africans to exercise caution when interacting with online platforms and to verify the authenticity of official pages before making any transactions. Steers has urged its customers to use their official app for genuine deals and promotions, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding against such scams.
The South African community is encouraged to report any suspicious activity on social media platforms and remain vigilant against online fraud, protecting themselves and others from falling victim to these deceptive practices.
Tags: Steers