CNN International correspondent Larry Madowo has cautioned his followers to stay alert after discovering a fraudulent Facebook account impersonating him and soliciting money in his name.
In a post on, Madowo shared a screenshot of the fake profile using his photo and full name, accompanied by a message urging followers to donate to a certain bank account.
“This is a job I love even though it is dangerous, I like helping people, and explaining to the World about the brutality that is being done here and by others everywhere… I speak all over the world, and I will continue to do so…” read the post in part.
The message which had some grammatical errors and unusual vocabulary, claimed he was working in dangerous conditions “to help people and expose brutality.”
“This is NOT me,” Madowo stated.
The style of writing quickly caught the attention of Kenyan followers, who said the phrasing resembled Tanzanian Swahili more than Kenyan usage.
This sparked speculation that the impersonation may have been orchestrated from across the border, especially given the timing, coming just days after Madowo’s explosive CNN exposé on alleged killings by Tanzanian security forces.
Since the documentary aired, Madowo has received insults, ethnic slurs, and direct threats from individuals claiming to be Tanzanian supporters of the government.
He posted screenshots of several disturbing messages, some threatening to “deal with him” or track him down, while others hurled obscene personal attacks.
He responded captioning one screenshot: “Majirani wametumwa kunisalimia” loosely translating to “Neighbours have been sent to greet me” highlighting the barrage of coordinated messages.
The online aggression comes in the wake of his CNN investigation, which used verified videos, satellite evidence and eyewitness accounts to allege that Tanzanian police and pro-government militia fired live rounds at unarmed protesters during and after the 29 October general election.
The film further reported claims of bodies allegedly being buried secretly to conceal the scale of fatalities.
But alongside the abuse, Madowo has also received an unexpected outpouring of solidarity from many Tanzanians themselves.
Some adopted his photograph as their own profile pictures in a symbolic show of solidarity.