R17 Ventures has issued a warning to the public about a scam involving WhatsApp users being added to random groups without consent.
On Monday, 7 October 2024, Swiss digital performance marketing agency R17 Ventures AG, in a statement to Political Analysis South Africa, alerted the public to a WhatsApp scam with perpetrators masquerading as the company.
Using the name and likeness of R17 Ventures, the scammers attempt to lure unsuspecting users to join various WhatsApp groups and subgroups to post reviews on establishments like restaurants and other businesses.
The company’s Senior Business Development Manager, based in Cape Town, Jono Duguid, explained that R17 Ventures is aware of the scam and clarified that, although they are a performance marketing company, they are not involved in the reviews space.
“R17 Ventures’ core business is performance marketing (paid media),” Duguid stated, adding that the company “runs ads for clients on channels like Meta (Facebook & Instagram) Ads, Google Ads, LinkedIn Ads, and Bing, as well as content production for organic and paid ads.” He emphasised that R17 Ventures has no connection to the scam or those perpetrating it.
Duguid’s statement follows complaints from individuals who reported being added to WhatsApp groups without their consent, seemingly violating privacy laws like POPIA.
Group members are asked to perform incentivised tasks, such as posting reviews, for promised rewards of R30 per review—a payment that is, unsurprisingly, never delivered.
While all the individuals behind the scam remain unknown, they are using the name and branding of R17 Ventures, specifically “R17 Ventures AG,” and the impersonators reach out to users to complete tasks.
The scam directs people to leave reviews on Google My Business listings, regardless of whether they have actually visited the establishments they are reviewing.
R17 Ventures has taken action to counter the scam, including sending a cease-and-desist letter to those responsible and filing a criminal case with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Additionally, the company has posted a notice on its website targeted at South African users, warning: “If you have been contacted on WhatsApp, please report the admins and/or groups immediately to WhatsApp. Do not share any personal information with these impersonators. We are currently taking necessary action. If in doubt, please contact us via our official contact channels.”
Duguid also reinforced R17 Ventures’ commitment to privacy, stating, “As a leader in our field, working with top firms from across the globe, we respect privacy and uphold the regulations of POPIA, GDPR, etc.—particularly regarding consent. If individuals are uncertain about any correspondence from our company, we encourage them to visit our website (https://r17ventures.com) and reach out through our official contact channels. We are happy to verify the legitimacy of any communication, and we recommend doing so before responding to any doubtful messages.”
Also read:
Need Help Vetting an Investment? We’re Here for You.
Have you encountered an investment that feels off? Our free fact-checking service is available to the public, providing quick reviews of suspicious opportunities, with our findings published on our website for everyone to see.
However, if you’re looking for a more comprehensive and private investigation, we offer detailed due diligence reports. These are in-depth, three-page analyses designed to thoroughly vet companies, individuals, and their claims—ensuring you have the full picture before making a financial decision. This service is available for R3,956.00 including VAT.
For detailed due diligence tailored to your specific needs, contact us directly at m.mpolase@politicalanalysis.co.za.
The post Digital Performance Marketing Agency R17 Ventures warns public of WhatsApp Scam appeared first on Political Analysis South Africa.
