Harare – Banking group Barclays has lashed out at a hoax WhatsApp message that is advising Zimbabwe depositors to withdraw their money.
“Those with their monies at Barclays Bank go and withdraw, it is closing for good on the 22nd of March 2016. Pass it on,” said the WhatsApp message which has been circulating since Monday.
The hoax WhatsApp message comes about after Barclays earlier this month announced its intention to exit its Zimbabwean operation as well as reduce its its shareholding in Barclays Africa Group, formerly Absa.
Barclays Zimbabwe said the WhatsApp message is inaccurate and misleading regarding the claimed exit date.
“Barclays would like to re-assure valued customers and the general public at large, that the misleading WhatsApp messages currently circulating concerning our alleged closure on the 22nd of March 2016 are grossly inaccurate and false,” Barclays said in response to the WhatsApp message.
“Barclays is open for business and has no intention whatsoever to close its doors. We remain committed to the growth of our company,” it added.
Recently, another Zimbabwean bank, NMB, had to issue a statement after another false social media message saying it was set to fold up.
The Zimbabwean central bank has also sought to allay fears and loss of confidence emanating from the false social messages about banks, saying it is the sole responsibility of the central bank and the banks concerned to issue such statements.-FIN24
