Man Arrested in Mutoko for Faking US$287K Robbery to Scam Mbinga
A 39-year-old man has been arrested in Mutoko after allegedly reporting a fake robbery to manipulate an unnamed mbinga into giving him money.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the arrest of Khumbulani Sibanda in a statement on Saturday. Sibanda reportedly made a habit of fabricating robbery incidents to gain sympathy from mbingas and manipulate them into giving him money.
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Man Arrested in Mutoko for Faking Robbery to Scam Business Owner
Sibanda claimed that on December 11, 2024, around 10:00 AM, he was robbed of US$287,000 in cash and an unregistered Toyota Allion vehicle in Harare’s Central Business District before being dumped by the alleged robbers in Mutoko.
However, police investigations revealed the entire story was fabricated. Detectives established that Sibanda had travelled to Mutoko using public transport after presenting an identification card from a local bus company.
Once in Mutoko, Sibanda contacted a local business owner, claiming he intended to buy their garage in Adbennie for US$900,000. Shortly after, he claimed to have been robbed of the money, using the story to elicit sympathy.
Elaborate Fraud Scheme
Police uncovered that Sibanda had approached multiple business people, private security companies, and property owners in Harare, pretending to have large sums of cash saying that he wanted to buy properties. To make his claims believable, he began negotiating transactions and even hired private security companies for supposed cash-in-transit services.
His ultimate goal, police say, was to manipulate victims into offering him money out of sympathy for his alleged misfortunes.
Police Issue Warning
The ZRP has urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with individuals making extravagant financial promises. Citizens are advised to verify the authenticity of property sales or financial transactions and report any suspicious activities.
For concerns or suspicions, the public is encouraged to contact the ZRP via the National Complaints Desk at (0242) 703631, WhatsApp at 0712 800 197, or visit the nearest police station.
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