Warning: Scammers Use Sudhir’s Photo Again To Push Fake Investment Scheme On Facebook

By Gad Masereka 

Fraudsters have targeted businessman Dr Sudhir Ruparelia for yet another round of online impersonation, using his photograph and name in a sponsored Facebook advertisement to push a suspicious money-making scheme at unsuspecting social media users.

The advert, circulating under a page branded “Uganda 24/7,” claims that a newly launched platform can multiply a user’s money at extraordinary speed, suggesting that a starting investment of Shs936,422 can yield over Shs7.5 million in a matter of weeks. It features Ruparelia holding cash beside a tablet displaying rising charts, giving the false impression that he endorses or is involved in the scheme.

Officials close to the tycoon are categorical: Ruparelia has no connection to the advertised platform. The businessman, widely associated with real estate, hospitality, banking and education investments through the Ruparelia Group, has not announced any digital earning scheme. The advert links to an unverified website, adding to the list of red flags experts have identified.

Cybersecurity specialists say the scheme fits a well-documented pattern of fraud in which high-profile names are exploited to lower victims’ defences. Tactics commonly used in such scams include promises of guaranteed returns within impossibly short timeframes, pressure to invest before the opportunity disappears, and redirection to unverified sites designed to harvest personal information or solicit deposits.

The public is advised to verify any investment claims through Ruparelia Group’s official channels, avoid sharing personal or financial information on unknown platforms, and report suspicious advertisements to Facebook and relevant authorities. Ruparelia has previously issued warnings about similar schemes and had multiple fake accounts taken down, yet new ones continue to emerge.