A 43-year-old Zvishavane man, Luckson Daka, has lost US$15,000 to a sophisticated con trick, highlighting the increasing prevalence of such scams in Zimbabwe.
The incident, which unfolded in Harare, involved a well-orchestrated ruse known locally as “chadonha,” a deceptive scheme preying on unsuspecting individuals.
The scam begins with the seemingly innocent act of dropping a bundle of money – in this case, fake notes wrapped in plastic – into the path of the intended victim. As the victim, unaware of the trap, picks up the cash, believing themselves fortunate, the scammers swiftly intervene. They deceptively claim ownership of the money, initiating a carefully crafted interaction.
This interaction serves as a prelude to the main event. Under the guise of sharing the found money, the victim is lured to a secluded location. In this instance, the unsuspecting Daka was led to Harare Kopje mountain. It was here that the true nature of the scam was revealed.
According to court papers, while at Harare Kopje, another group of five men, posing as police officers, emerged. These individuals, part of the larger con operation, seized the US$15,000 that Daka carried in his satchel, and promptly disappeared. The entire operation, from the initial dropping of the bait money to the final theft, was executed with precision and cunning.
One of the suspects involved in this elaborate scam, 46-year-old Wellington Nhiwatiwa, recently appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Isheanesu Matova, charged with fraud. The court heard that the incident occurred on November 19th of this year. Nhiwatiwa, along with seven other accomplices who remain at large, approached Daka as he disembarked from an Inter-Africa bus from Zvishavane.
Prosecuting, Takudzwa Jambawu, detailed the sequence of events. Nhiwatiwa and his accomplices strategically placed the bundle of fake notes in front of Daka. The court heard how they successfully manipulated Daka into believing he had stumbled upon a lucky find. The ensuing interaction led to Daka being lured to the isolated setting of Harare Kopje.
“While at the Kopje, another group of five men appeared pretending to be police officers,” the court papers stated. This second group, acting as a crucial element in the con, seized Daka’s money and vanished, leaving him to grapple with the devastating consequences of the scam.
Nhiwatiwa challenged his placement on remand, leading to an adjourned hearing scheduled for Thursday to determine the outcome of his application.
The incident involving Luckson Daka highlights the vulnerability of unsuspecting individuals to these carefully planned scams. The perpetrators’ ability to seamlessly transition from the initial deception to the final theft, involving a second group impersonating law enforcement, demonstrates a high level of organisation and coordination.
