Online Reporter
Moreblessing Ncube
THREE Econet employees and their partner, who allegedly turned to slick scammers, have been dragged to court for allegedly masterminding a devious SIM swap scheme that duped two unsuspecting individuals of US$4,485.
Manuel Makuvise (28), Kudzanai Learnmore Taraziva (28), Kudzaishe Shadreck Chakanyuka (42), and Joshua Nyaruwashe (24), are now facing fraud charges. Prosecutor Garry Sengweni told the court that on April 29, the gang targeted an EcoCash account belonging to Eliah Nkomo.
Makuvise, Taraziva and Chakanyuka are Econet employees.
They alleged harvested details of the account holder, and supplied them to Chakanyuka, who came up with a fake identity card bearing Nkomo’s details.
However, it also bore Chakanyuka’s face.
The Econet workers then processed a sim card replacement in respect of the complainant’s line, disabling the sim card being used by Nkomo and taking charge of his EcoCash account.
The accused persons then withdrew $1,946 from Nkomo’s EcoCash account.
In a second incident on May 10, the accused persons targeted EcoCash account number 0772478536 belonging to Lynace Phiri.
Makuvise, Taraziva, and Nyaruwashe checked the account balance, harvested details of the account holder, and supplied them to Chakanyuka, who manufactured a fake identity card with Phiri’s details but bearing Chakanyuka’s face.
The Econet employess then processed a sim card replacement in respect of Phiri’s line, disabling the sim card being used by Phiri and taking charge of his EcoCash account.
The accused persons then withdrew $2,539 from Phiri’s EcoCash account.
The total value of the money stolen is $4,485, and nothing was recovered.
The matter was remanded to September 19.
Mathew Masinge