Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
A 25-YEAR-OLD man from Harare, Denzel Tinashe Wankies, has appeared in court on fraud charges for his alleged role in a scam that conned a tutor out of US$35 000 with fake promises of employment in the United Kingdom.
Wankies was granted US$150 bail by Harare magistrate Mr Tapiwa Kuhudzai.
The State alleges that in August 2024, an accomplice of Wankies, Takunda McDonald Pfende (who is currently on remand), created a fake Facebook profile under the name “Tinashe Clarence Huni”.
Using this alias, Pfende allegedly contacted the complainant, Christian Kumbirai Undenge, an English tutor who helps clients prepare for travel abroad.
Pfende offered to secure UK jobs for Undenge’s clients, directing her to continue discussions on WhatsApp. They agreed on a fee of US$3 500 per person for 10 clients, totalling US$35 000.
Following the instructions she received, Undenge collected the money and transferred the full US$35 000 to Wankies via local money transfer platforms Mukuru, InnBucks, and Omari.
The State alleges Wankies then withdrew the funds through his EcoCash and InnBucks accounts and shared the proceeds with his accomplices.
The scam unravelled when Undenge received an anonymous email alerting her that “Huni” was not in the UK and was running a fraud operation. She subsequently filed a report with the police at Harare Central Station.
The court heard that Undenge and her clients suffered a total loss of US$35 000, and nothing has been recovered.
Charles Duri