Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
Police in Midlands Province have urged the public and business community to stay vigilant against online and banking scams, warning that criminals are exploiting the growing use of digital financial services to steal money and sensitive personal information.
Fraudsters reportedly use deceptive text messages, WhatsApp links, fake online advertisements,s and impersonation tactics to target unsuspecting victims, with police urging the public to verify transactions and protect their banking credentials.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said common scams included phishing and smishing, in which criminals send fraudulent emails or text messages designed to trick victims into revealing their banking or mobile money credentials.
“Common scams include phishing and smishing, in which victims receive fraudulent messages prompting them to update their banking or mobile money credentials, as well as card cloning and unauthorised access to financial accounts,” he said.
Insp Mahoko said criminals were also advertising goods and services, including vehicles, livestock and agricultural inputs, on social media platforms before demanding upfront payments and disappearing without delivering the promised products.
The scams exploit the trust people place in online sellers and the convenience of digital transactions, leaving victims at risk of losing money to fictitious traders.
“Identity theft and account takeovers are also being perpetrated by criminals who impersonate banking officials or public figures to solicit sensitive information such as One-Time Passwords (OTPs) and personal identification numbers (PINs),” said Insp Mahoko.
He said the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) was intensifying efforts to identify and prosecute perpetrators through targeted investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department’s Commercial Crimes Division and Cybercrime Unit.
“The units investigate electronic money trails, trace compromised accounts and work to identify and apprehend criminal syndicates involved in digital financial fraud,” said Insp Mahoko.
He said police were also working with financial institutions, mobile network operators and the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) to facilitate the freezing of compromised accounts, collection of digital evidence and tracing of suspects.
Insp Mahoko urged members of the public to exercise caution when conducting online transactions and never disclose confidential banking information to people claiming to represent financial institutions or law enforcement agencies.
“No bank, official or police officer will ever ask for your card PIN, online banking password or OTP over the phone. Members of the public should never share these details with anyone,” he said.
Insp Mahoko advised people buying goods online to verify sellers and their products before making payments, preferably through physical checks or secure and reputable payment mechanisms.
Those who suspect they have been targeted should immediately contact their bank or financial service provider to report the transaction and request that affected accounts or payments be secured, where possible, before lodging a formal report at the nearest police station.
“Victims should also provide transaction references and any other relevant information that could assist investigations,” said Insp Mahoko.
He also warned the public against clicking on suspicious links received through SMS, email or social media messaging platforms, saying these could be used to steal confidential information and gain unauthorised access to financial accounts.
Insp Mahoko said combating online and banking fraud required cooperation among police, financial institutions, mobile network operators, the media, businesses and members of the public.
“We call on businesses and individuals to remain vigilant as criminals continue to exploit digital platforms to perpetrate financial crimes,” he said.
