×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Disgruntled customer to blame for fake email: MiWay

A disgruntled MiWay customer was behind a fake email that did the rounds on social media on Thursday afternoon.

A picture of the bogus email showed a purported MiWay claims assessor discussing a managerial decision to reject 90% of claims by black people from August 1 because they were easy targets and “baboons”.

 

About an hour after the email surfaced‚ the insurance company issued a statement in which it revealed that the email was fake.

MiWay CEO René Otto said an urgent investigation was launched and the company said the email with its content was never sent from a MiWay employee. He said there was no such meeting that took place or decision to this effect.

“As far as we could establish‚ it would seem that we had a client who had a claim with us. We repudiated the claim because the client had not fulfilled the obligations of the policy.

“The client took the complaint to the ombudsman who ruled in our favour.”

Otto said the customer had email contact with the company during the process of validating the claim.

He said the company would get independent forensic experts to verify what it had uncovered and would take the necessary steps‚ both criminal and civil.

Otto said the employees listed in the email were people who worked for the organisation.

“The thing that really angers me is the spotlight on these individuals. They are not even in management.”

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.