After losing his phone, some hackers impersonated him and started demanding money from unsuspecting members of the public.
In a statement, Mr Laboso set the record straight saying:
“I am writing to inform the public that on the 5th of August 2023, I had my phone hacked with intent to commit fraud. The hackers impersonated me and send messages to my contact list, requesting for money. The message read:
βMorning, could you be in a position to lend me 20k I refund in 2hrs? My m-banking is currently under maintenance.β
It is my belief that a few of my contacts fell victim to this fraud, but for the majority, I was able to remedy the situation by promptly informing them of the fraud.
I have since reported this incident at Kilimani Police Station under OB 41/07/08/2023 and to other relevant authorities who are currently investigating the matter. I would like to take this opportunity to warn others about the dangers of phone hacking. If you receive a suspicious message from someone you know, please do not respond but instead contact them directly to verify the message.
I have also taken steps to protect my phone from future hacking attempts. I have changed my passwords, enabled two-factor authentication, and installed several security softwares.
I am grateful to the authorities for their swift action in investigating this matter. I hope that they will be able to apprehend the hackers and bring them to justice.
I would also like to thank the people who have reached out to me to offer their support. I am grateful for your concern, and I appreciate your help in spreading the word about this important issue.”