Three Remanded for Attempted US$190k Fraud

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

Three suspected hackers from Bulawayo have been remanded in custody following their attempt to defraud Real Star, a local security company, of US$190,000.

Gladstone Mthulisi Tshabalala, Dalumuzi Moyo, and Manase Manjovha appeared before Magistrate Patricia Kamwanda at the Harare Magistrate's Courts, facing charges of fraud.

The complainant, Real Star, is represented by Cephas Ngorima. According to the State, through prosecutor Zebediah Bofu, the suspects allegedly hacked into the complainant's mobile banking credentials on September 2, 2024.

They then attempted to replace the SIM card linked to the company's Ecocash account at Econet Wireless Zimbabwe.

The court heard that on September 12, the trio approached an Econet agent, Taurai Mushamba, to replace the complainant's Econet line. Mushamba grew suspicious and alerted both the complainant and the police, leading to the suspects' arrest in Norton.

The alleged identity card used in the attempted fraud was recovered from the Econet agent.

The suspects intended to transfer money from the complainant's Ned Bank account, which holds US$190,000.