Identity thief uses lost phone to scam real estate...

Identity thief uses lost phone to scam real estate agency owner of ZWL$8 million

How to safeguard oneself against online financial frauds | Mint

Michael Mashiri

Two Harare business owners are living to regret trading on the black market after they fell victim to an alleged identity thief who capitalised on a lost phone to con one business person into transferring ZWL$ 8 million into the account of the second one, then collected hard currency from the second one.

The alleged thief, Chizema, 22, of Hopely appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi, charged under Section 136 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:23.

The state's case is that Manoj Prasad is a tenant of Linda Baipai who runs a real estate business in Harare.

Prasad lost his phone in November this year and filed a lost property report with the police.

Chizema picked up the lost handset. He sent a message toBaipai pretending to be Prasad.

Chizema asked Baipai to send him ZWL$ 8 million saying that he would give her US$10 000 in exchange.

Believing that she was dealing with Prasad, Baipai duly transferred the amount as instructed by Chizema, into a CBZ Bank Account belonging to a company called Capital Hive Private Limited.

Baipai sent Chizema proof of the transfer and he confirmed that the money had reached the intended destination. He then became evasive on giving Baipai the promised hard currency.

The following day Baipai went to Manoj's residence. On being informed about the loss of the phone, Baipai made a police report.

On December 12, director of Capital Hive Private Limited Anistos Makanda, 40, of Zimre Park, was interviewed by the police as the transfer made by Baipai had been traced to his company account.

Makanda explained that he had bought US$ 9091 from Chizema in exchange for the ZWL$ 8 million.

Magistrate Mangosi remanded Chizema to February 14, 2023 on ZWL$100 000 and on condition that Chizema surrenders his passport..