The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has urged the public to refrain from engaging in investment “opportunities” shared on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to avoid falling victim to scams.
In a post on their official X page, the ZRP stated on Tuesday that they are currently investigating several reports of criminals exploiting social media to deceive unsuspecting individuals. Police said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP warns the public against responding to social media investment scams on platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.
Police are currently investigating reports of criminals who are using social media sites to dupe unsuspecting members of the public.
</blockquote>
The warning comes after Deputy Defence Minister Levi Mayihlome was allegedly defrauded of US$850 after falling for an online scam.
Mayihlome, a retired brigadier general, responded to a Facebook advert by someone posing as Zodwa Mkandla, promising substantial returns from “online cash trading.”
The 71-year-old later informed the police that he believed the individual was his socialite friend with the same name.
The scammers assured Mayihlome that an initial investment of US$200 would multiply 25-fold.
According to a police report, Mayihlome initially transferred US$200 at an Innbucks outlet in Borrowdale to a mobile number registered to one Gilbert Makombe.
The Deputy Minister was later advised that he made a profit of US$5,300. He was informed that for him to withdraw the profits, he was supposed to deposit another US$650.
Mayihlome subsequently made additional cash deposits of US$500 and US$150 to a different number registered to one Austine Tafirei.
According to the police report, Mayihlome became suspicious when the scammers demanded an additional US$365 for what they claimed was “inland tax revenue.” It was then that he realised he had been duped.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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The police in Zimbabwe are warning people about online investment scams on social media. They say criminals are tricking people into giving them money by promising big returns. A retired army general fell for a scam on Facebook and lost $850. The scammers told him to invest $200, promising it would multiply 25 times. They kept asking for more money until he realized it was a scam. The police are investigating the case and want people to be careful about online investment offers.

Most Online Investment Opportunities Are Scams, Warns ZRP

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has advised members of the public to ignore a job advert message purportedly originating from the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID).
The message, which has been circulating on social media platforms, is inviting people who are trained as teachers or are university degree holders to contact a number provided and pay money via InnBucks to secure employment at VID.
The Ministry of Transport has dismissed the message as fake and warned the public to be wary of being scammed. The Ministry said:
<blockquote>
Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development wishes to notify the public of a fake recruitment message circulating on social media purporting to offer employment at the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID).
Kindly note that the Public Service Commission is mandated to recruit human capital on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe and no individuals have been authorised to do the same.
We, therefore, urge the public to ignore such claims and call our toll-free numbers 08013121-3 for verification before any financial losses, which we won’t be liable for.
</blockquote>
According to <a href="https://www.rd.com/article/how-to-identify-a-scammer/">Reader’s Digest</a>, here is how to identify scammers:
<blockquote>
Online scammers often claim to be contacting you on behalf of businesses, brands or organizations you know and trust.
If a company or government agency unexpectedly call you on the phone, that’s a tip-off that a scammer may be on the other end of the line.
Beware of anyone who attempts to rush or push you into making a decision without first giving you time to verify and thoughtfully consider their requests.
Scan any emails, messages or online chats you receive for misspellings, grammatical errors, strange subject lines or other discrepancies.
Criminals build fake profiles on dating apps to lure you in with the promise of love, sometimes resorting to love bombing—and then try to coerce you into giving gifts or cash.
On social networks and fake online retailers that are created specifically to appear to be the real thing, it’s not uncommon to find goods at steep discounts. Trust your instincts, and know that if a price is too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
A promise of easy money – No legitimate financial investment opportunity is sure to ever pay off 100% of the time—and cannot legally be advertised as “guaranteed” income—so be very leery of anyone promising such.
Requests an unusual payment option – It’s not uncommon for romance scammers or someone who’s hacked a friend’s social media account to request that you send money using peer-to-peer payment systems (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, etc.), gift cards, Western Union, wire transfers or cryptocurrency tokens.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Scam Alert: VID Recruitment Message Is Fake- Ministry Of Transport

A woman from Westgate, Harare, lost more than US$4 000 cash in a botched car deal involving a man she met on Facebook.
Vongai Pepukai (23) was allegedly scammed by Itayi Chikeya of CarsWorld who had promised to deliver a brand new Chevrolet Cruze after making payment through a money transfer agent.
Pepukai paid for the vehicle sometime in February but she is yet to receive the car.
Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the case to <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/woman-loses-cash-to-man-she-met-on-facebook/">H-Metro</a>. She said:
<blockquote>
Police are investigating a case where a woman lost money to a man she found on social media.
The circumstances are that the complainant was defrauded of cash by the accused person.
He placed an advertisement on Facebook that he was an agent of a company called CarsWorld, which imports vehicles from South Africa.
She chose a Chevrolet Cruze on the accused person’s Facebook account, which was going for US$4 181.
She was told it included import duty.
She was told to deposit money through a money transfer agent based at Avondale Shopping Centre, which she did on various occasions.
The vehicle was not delivered as agreed, and that is when the complainant realised that she had been scammed.
</blockquote>
According to <a href="https://www.rd.com/article/how-to-identify-a-scammer/">Reader’s Digest</a>, here is how to identify scammers:
<ul>
<li>Online scammers often claim to be contacting you on behalf of businesses, brands or organizations you know and trust.</li>
<li>If a company or government agency unexpectedly call you on the phone, that’s a tip-off that a scammer may be on the other end of the line.</li>
<li>Beware of anyone who attempts to rush or push you into making a decision without first giving you time to verify and thoughtfully consider their requests.</li>
<li>Scan any emails, messages or online chats you receive for misspellings, grammatical errors, strange subject lines or other discrepancies.</li>
<li>Criminals build fake profiles on dating apps to lure you in with the promise of love, sometimes resorting to love bombing—and then try to coerce you into giving gifts or cash.</li>
<li>On social networks and fake online retailers that are created specifically to appear to be the real thing, it’s not uncommon to find goods at steep discounts. Trust your instincts, and know that if a price is too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.</li>
<li>A promise of easy money – No legitimate financial investment opportunity is sure to ever pay off 100% of the time—and cannot legally be advertised as “guaranteed” income—so be very leery of anyone promising such.</li>
<li>Requests an unusual payment option – It’s not uncommon for romance scammers or someone who’s hacked a friend’s social media account to request that you send money using peer-to-peer payment systems (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, etc.), gift cards, Western Union, wire transfers or cryptocurrency tokens.</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Harare Woman Scammed By "Car Dealer" She Met On Facebook

Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has distanced itself from a message circulating on WhatsApp offering Independence Day Econet 10GB free data.
In a statement released this Monday, Econet said the “promotion” did not originate from them but was the work of scammers. It said:
<blockquote>
Beware of scam WhatsApp chain messages claiming that we are giving away free Econet Data.
Please be advised that these posts are fake, and you should ignore them.
We will communicate through our official channels if we are running any promotions.
</blockquote>
According to <a href="https://www.rd.com/article/how-to-identify-a-scammer/">Reader’s Digest</a>, here is how to identify scammers:
<ul>
<li>Online scammers often claim to be contacting you on behalf of businesses, brands or organizations you know and trust.</li>
<li>If a company or government agency unexpectedly call you on the phone, that’s a tip-off that a scammer may be on the other end of the line.</li>
<li>Beware of anyone who attempts to rush or push you into making a decision without first giving you time to verify and thoughtfully consider their requests.</li>
<li>Scan any emails, messages or online chats you receive for misspellings, grammatical errors, strange subject lines or other discrepancies.</li>
<li>Criminals build fake profiles on dating apps to lure you in with the promise of love, sometimes resorting to love bombing—and then try to coerce you into giving gifts or cash.</li>
<li>On social networks and fake online retailers that are created specifically to appear to be the real thing, it’s not uncommon to find goods at steep discounts. Trust your instincts, and know that if a price is too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.</li>
<li>A promise of easy money – No legitimate financial investment opportunity is sure to ever pay off 100% of the time—and cannot legally be advertised as “guaranteed” income—so be very leery of anyone promising such.</li>
<li>Requests an unusual payment option – It’s not uncommon for romance scammers or someone who’s hacked a friend’s social media account to request that you send money using peer-to-peer payment systems (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, etc.), gift cards, Western Union, wire transfers or cryptocurrency tokens.</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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