adminTanaka Mahanya
HARARE City Council says it is not selling residential stands in the capital and has warned home seekers they could be duped by bogus agents.
The council advised that it had not contracted any agents to sell land on its behalf and any home seekers, dealing with these agents, risk losing money.
It also said it had received several reports of land sales by these bogus agents in and around the city.
“We would like to advise all home seekers that we are not selling any residential stands in Harare, particularly in Dawn Brooke, and we did not contract any agents to sell land on our behalf.
“The city does not have such agreements in place with any person or agent, any home seeker dealing with the bogus agents risk losing their hard-earned cash,” said the council in a statement. Bogus estate agents in Harare have also been scamming people looking for properties to rent. The fraudsters advertise seemingly available properties online for rent and take deposits from unsuspecting victims.
In the latest case, currently under investigation, two scammers posted an advert on a Facebook page called Great Homes, masquerading as estate agents.
They took deposits of between US$300 and US$1 000 from their victims and disappeared.
The duo appeared in court facing fraud charges and they were remanded in custody.
More than US$3000 was lost to these bogus agents.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter