Harare – In a case that underscores the growing sophistication of cybercrime in Zimbabwe, four individuals, including a husband and wife, have been apprehended for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting victims of a staggering ZiG223,000 through a cunning sim card scam. The arrest of Rumbidzai Tsongora (24), Tranos Taurai Muzanenhamo (26), Timothy Bvuramiti (27), and Bradwell Shangwa (24) has sent a strong warning to those seeking to exploit the digital landscape for illicit gains.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), in a statement released on X, detailed the intricate web of deception spun by the accused. “Rumbidzai Tsongora (24), Tranos Taurai Muzanenhamo (26), Timothy Bvuramiti (27) and Bradwell Shangwa (24) were arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on three counts of fraud, a single count of possessing articles for criminal use and another count of contravening the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act,” the statement read.
The alleged scheme, meticulously planned and executed, targeted unsuspecting individuals seeking to exchange foreign currency on the burgeoning black market. “It is the State’s case that on the 9th of July 2024 the first accused and second accused who are husband and wife proceeded to an Econet agent in Marondera and the first accused allegedly presented herself as Ruth Machakadya,” the NPAZ statement revealed. “She made a replacement for Ruth Machakadya’s sim card and the four accused persons assumed control of Ruth Machakadya’s sim card and advertised on the WhatsApp platform using that line that they were in possession of US$5 000 which they intended to exchange for local currency.”
The accused, posing as legitimate currency exchangers, lured their victims with the promise of a lucrative deal. Three individuals, believing they were engaging in a legitimate transaction, transferred a combined ZiG$223 000 to a bank account controlled by the alleged scammers. The victims, desperate to access hard currency in a country grappling with economic challenges, fell prey to the elaborate ruse.
“Acting on the misrepresentation three complainants transferred ZiG68 000, ZiG65 000 and ZWG90 000 respectively to a bank account controlled by the accused persons. The total value defrauded is ZiG223 000,” the NPAZ statement confirmed.
The accused, having successfully siphoned the funds, then moved to exchange the stolen money into foreign currency on the black market, further perpetuating the cycle of illicit financial activity. The authorities, alerted to the fraudulent scheme, launched an investigation that led them to the accused’s hideout in Chitungwiza.
“Police investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons in Chitungwiza where they had gone into hiding. The Police recovered the following: 30 unused Econet sim cards, 36 used Econet sim cards, 4 used Net One sim cards, 4 Telecel simcards, 5 O mari bank debit cards, used Net One sim cards as well as a Toyota Hiace,” the NPAZ statement detailed.
The arrest of the accused, along with the seizure of a vast array of mobile phone lines and banking paraphernalia, paints a chilling picture of the scale of the operation. The sheer number of sim cards recovered suggests a well-oiled network designed to target unsuspecting victims.
The court, acknowledging the gravity of the charges, ordered the accused to be held in custody until July 22, 2024, pending further legal proceedings. The incident has sparked widespread concern about the vulnerability of Zimbabwe’s digital infrastructure to cybercrime. The ease with which the accused were able to manipulate sim cards and online platforms highlights the need for enhanced security measures to safeguard individuals and businesses from similar scams.
“There is now a growing threat of cybercrime in Zimbabwe. The perpetrators are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods, exploiting vulnerabilities in our digital systems to defraud unsuspecting individuals,” a cyber security expert, Peter Jonasi, told My Zimbabwe News.
