Eastlea Woman in Court for US$4.7K Fake Job Permit...

Eastlea Woman in Court for US$4.7K Fake Job Permit Scam

Munyaradzi Mashiri- Court Correspondent

A 38-year-old woman from Eastlea, Harare, appeared in court for allegedly defrauding two people of US$4 700 through bogus promises of employment in Luxembourg.

Samantha Gumbo appeared before magistrate Ruth Moyo at the Harare Magistrates' Courts on charges of fraud. She is expected back in court on May 5, 2025.

The first complainant, Margaret Thando Zizhou, was reportedly seeking employment in Germany when she was referred to Gumbo in February. Gumbo allegedly told her she could facilitate documentation for a job in Luxembourg, where there was no age restriction.

Zizhou paid US$2 000 and received what turned out to be a fake work permit. After verifying with Luxembourg authorities, she learned the permit was not legitimate. Gumbo initially promised to refund her but later became unreachable.

In a separate incident, Gumbo also allegedly defrauded Manuel Edward Makuyana in September 2024. He had approached her seeking job opportunities in Australia, but she once again offered fake Luxembourg documentation.

Makuyana paid US$2 700 and was also given a forged work permit. After discovering its inauthenticity, he confronted Gumbo, who again promised a refund before cutting all communication.

None of the money has been recovered, and the total value defrauded stands at US$4 700.