Sim card scammers arrested with dozens of mobile phone lines

FOUR people, including a husband and wife, were arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering after scamming three people out of ZWG223 000.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) in a statement on X, said: “Rumbidzai Tsongora (24), Tranos Taurai Muzanenhamo (26), Timothy Bvuramiti (27) and Bradwell Shangwa (24) were arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on three counts of fraud, a single count of possessing articles for criminal use and another count of contravening the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act.

“It is the State’s case that on the 9th of July 2024 the first accused and second accused who are husband and wife proceeded to an Econet agent in Marondera and the first accused allegedly presented herself as Ruth Machakadya. She made a replacement for Ruth Machakadya’s sim card and the four accused persons assumed control of Ruth Machakadya’s sim card and advertised on the WhatsApp platform using that line that they were in possession of US$5 000 which they intended to exchange for local currency.
Acting on the misrepresentation three complainants transferred ZWG68 000, ZWG65 000 and ZWG90 000 respectively to a bank account controlled by the accused persons. The total value defrauded is ZWG223 000.

“They exchanged the stolen funds into foreign currency on the black market. Police investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons in Chitungwiza where they had gone into hiding. The Police recovered the following: 30 unused Econet sim cards, 36 used Econet sim cards, 4 used Net One sim cards, 4 Telecel simcards, 5 O mari bank credit cards, used Net One sim cards as well as a Toyota Hiace.”

The court ordered the accused to be held in custody until July 22, 2024.