News24 | Scammer pretends to be News24 investigative journalist in WhatsApp extortion attempt

• A person posing as News24’s Jeff Wicks was involved in a WhatsApp extortion attempt targeting social media personality Malcolm X.
• Malcolm X previously claimed he tipped off the Hawks to Katiso Molefe’s arrest in the DJ Sumbody murder case.
• The imposter was exposed after contacting the real Jeff Wicks from same number, pretending to be a woman, but neglected to change the display name from “JW”.
• For secure, anonymous communication with News24’s investigations team, click here. 

A person impersonating News24 investigative journalist Jeff Wicks has attempted to extort social media personality Malcolm X.

While this approach may be a scam of opportunity, it occurs when disinformation is rampant, and it could be an attempt to identify News24’s investigations team sources.

Malcolm X became intertwined in the police capture controversy KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi laid bare last month.

The businessman inserted himself into the furore by claiming that he was the one who tipped off former Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya that Katiso Molefe, the alleged mastermind behind five murders, including that of Oupa John Sefoka (DJ Sumbody), would be arrested.

Molefe is at the heart of Mkhwanazi’s claims that underworld figures and drug cartels had captured senior police officers and politicians.

The person impersonating Wicks approached Malcolm X via WhatsApp this week, seeking a discussion on “something that might be a solution to you and others”.

“It has been suggested that we fly out tonight and use Sunday as the day to talk before the week begins and before everyone is out and about. Please advise and I cannot be seen with any of the other gentlemen in person. I need to deal with you as a middleman for reasons I think you would appreciate,” the imposter said, adding: “Please let me know early, so I am able to speak to the wife and arrange for the kids as well.”

It appears that the person wanted Malcolm X to pay for flights from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

“Arrangements need to be made first for us to travel from Cape Town to Joburg. As I highlighted, my team and I are based at the headquarters in Cape Town. We travel on assignments to Joburg or other parts of the country, or abroad.”

The person used the number 076 809 2821.

On Monday evening, the ruse was exposed when the person contacted Wicks directly, using the same number, this time posing as Claudette Masethe.

Masethe was previously linked to tender don Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, and an offer to deliver sensitive documents was made.

While the person sent an e-mail address supposedly linked to Masethe, they neglected to change their display name, which had been set to “JW”.

Pieter du Toit, News24 assistant editor overseeing investigations, said: “We are increasingly engaged in a dis- and misinformation war. This again proves how nefarious elements go to work in order to extract information and benefits from unwitting actors. The public needs to be aware of this, and needs to be careful whom they talk to, and what they share. News24 and Jeff will never ask for favours in return for assistance.”

Comment was sought from Malcolm X, which will be added when received.