Mbabane – Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg has warned Emaswati against falling victim to artificial intelligence (AI)-generated investment scams after fake videos surfaced online using his likeness and voice to promote fraudulent investment schemes.
Speaking during the latest edition of Finance in Focus, Rijkenberg said the videos falsely portray him endorsing investment companies and encouraging members of the public to invest money.
He said he has never promoted any private investment company and would not do so in his capacity as Minister of Finance.
“Whenever you see me telling you to invest in a certain product or naming companies where you should invest, I would never do that. As Minister of Finance, I represent all financial institutions and would never single out one company for people to invest in,” he said.
The Minister said the videos were created using AI technology, which has become increasingly capable of producing convincing images and voices.
He said recent videos sound almost identical to his own voice, making it more difficult for people to distinguish genuine messages from fabricated ones.
Rijkenberg appealed to the public not to send money to companies or individuals featured in such advertisements and advised people to verify investment opportunities before making financial commitments.
He also cautioned against investment schemes promising unusually high returns, saying higher returns are usually accompanied by higher risks.
According to the Minister, lower-risk investments such as government bonds and fixed deposits continue to provide stable annual returns of about eight to nine per cent.
He said people should question any investment promising returns well above those levels and carefully assess the risks involved.
Rijkenberg added that households with access to grazing land could also consider livestock farming as a long-term investment. He said cattle and goats can provide good returns when properly managed through quality breeding and proper animal care.
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