News / National
Econet dismisses fake social media post on VPN deductions
3 hrs ago | Views
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has dismissed as fake a widely circulated social media post claiming that the company will deduct funds from EcoCash wallets of customers who have used virtual private networks (VPNs) to access free data.
The post, which mimicked an official Econet announcement, alleged that the telecommunications giant had detected unauthorised VPN activity and would impose automated deductions to recover data costs.
However, Econet has refuted the claim, marking the viral image - purportedly from its official X (formerly Twitter) page - as "FAKE" and urging customers to ignore the misleading information.
The company has not issued any official notice confirming such deductions.
In recent years, Zimbabwean telecom providers have faced growing VPN usage, with customers using the technology to bypass data restrictions and access blocked content. However, the legal basis for enforcing retroactive charges on VPN use remains questionable under the country's consumer protection laws.
The fake notice has sparked concern among Econet subscribers, particularly those who rely on VPNs. Some social media users speculated that the hoax was designed to spread panic, while others called for Econet to clarify its stance on VPN use.
Econet Zimbabwe has advised customers to rely on its verified communication channels for accurate updates and to disregard misleading posts circulating online.
The incident follows a pattern of fraudulent announcements targeting major Zimbabwean corporations in recent months. Experts warn that misinformation campaigns on social media are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often using brand logos and official language to deceive the public.
Authorities have urged citizens to verify sources before sharing corporate-related news, as false information could cause unnecessary panic or even financial scams.
Econet has yet to confirm whether legal action will be taken against those responsible for the fake post.
The post, which mimicked an official Econet announcement, alleged that the telecommunications giant had detected unauthorised VPN activity and would impose automated deductions to recover data costs.
However, Econet has refuted the claim, marking the viral image - purportedly from its official X (formerly Twitter) page - as "FAKE" and urging customers to ignore the misleading information.
The company has not issued any official notice confirming such deductions.
In recent years, Zimbabwean telecom providers have faced growing VPN usage, with customers using the technology to bypass data restrictions and access blocked content. However, the legal basis for enforcing retroactive charges on VPN use remains questionable under the country's consumer protection laws.
The fake notice has sparked concern among Econet subscribers, particularly those who rely on VPNs. Some social media users speculated that the hoax was designed to spread panic, while others called for Econet to clarify its stance on VPN use.
Econet Zimbabwe has advised customers to rely on its verified communication channels for accurate updates and to disregard misleading posts circulating online.
The incident follows a pattern of fraudulent announcements targeting major Zimbabwean corporations in recent months. Experts warn that misinformation campaigns on social media are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often using brand logos and official language to deceive the public.
Authorities have urged citizens to verify sources before sharing corporate-related news, as false information could cause unnecessary panic or even financial scams.
Econet has yet to confirm whether legal action will be taken against those responsible for the fake post.
Source - The Herald
