As If she does not have a lot on her plate to deal with; from an allegedly abusive baby daddy violating protection orders, she now has to deal with online scammers. DJ and brand influencer Sithelo Shozi is one of the most talked about personalities in South Africa and this has made her a victim of online scams. Like celebrities, Somizi Mhlongo, Letoya Makhene-Pulumo, and Yvonne Chaka Chaka, someone is using her name to make money by arranging false bookings and selling non-existent cell phones.

A VICTIM OF A SCAM

The scammer is using her sister's name to take money from booking agents. Sithelo's manager Siyabonga "DJ Kotin" Zikode tells ZiMoja that people need to be on high alert for the scammer. "This has been going on for quite some time, over two years now. The person calls themselves Zekhethelo Kate Shozi and that is Sithelo's sister. The person uses Facebook and Sithelo does not have a Facebook account," he says. "He or she sends people requests for bookings, we don't do that. We don't approach people; they come to us. Many organisers know to speak to me." Kotin says, people need to stop wanting her through "back doors," he says. "I don't feel sorry for others because they think speaking directly to her, they can score discounts and they end up being scammed. I know a few who have been scammed of R25 000 each. This person also pretends to sell phones. Sithelo is not a phone merchant." DJ Kotin says they are in the process of opening an official case at the police station. "This person is not pretending to be her but to be her agent and that affects my company's credibility."

FOCUSING ON MAKING MUSIC

It was also recently reported that Sithelo was cast for a role in the drama-series, Umkhokha but she says that is not true. "I am not going to be acting on Umkhokha. Right now, I am focusing on my music." Sithelo says, she recently dropped her single Thandolwethu featuring Nomthandazo. "I know nothing about Umkhokha. The song is in the Top 20 of the most-played songs in South Africa," Sithelo says. "We are also working on my EP with different producers and feel it's high time I release a project."