Security Alert: Fraudulent Facebook Post Impersonating UCT
The University of Cape Town (UCT) has been made aware of a fraudulent Facebook post circulating on social media that falsely claims to be associated with the University.
This post is not an official UCT communication and has not been authorised by the University. The content appears designed to mislead users by exploiting UCT's name, reputation, and branding.
What You Should Do
If you encounter this or any similar social media post:
- Do not click on links contained within the post until you have verified their legitimacy.
- Do not provide personal information, banking details, passwords, or authentication codes.
- Exercise caution before responding to messages, completing forms, or following instructions contained in the post.
- Verify information through official UCT communication channels before taking any action.
How to Verify Information
Always confirm the authenticity of messages claiming to originate from UCT by using official University channels, including:
- Official UCT websites ending in uct.ac.za
- Official UCT social media accounts
- Communications sent from verified UCT email addresses
If you are uncertain whether a message or post is legitimate, please contact the relevant UCT department or the UCT CSIRT team for verification.
Action Taken
The fraudulent post has been reported to Facebook through the platform's abuse reporting mechanisms, and we have requested its removal. We have also reported the matter to the appropriate organisations for further investigation.
Report Suspicious Content
If you identify other posts, messages, websites, or communications that appear to impersonate UCT, please report them immediately to: csirt@uct.ac.za.
Early reporting helps protect the UCT community and assists in preventing fraud.
Stay Vigilant
Cybercriminals frequently impersonate trusted organisations to gain credibility and deceive users. Always take a moment to verify the source of unexpected messages, promotions, competitions, requests for information, or financial offers before engaging with them.
When in doubt, verify before you trust.