Official warnings and reviewed community reports. Every published alert links to its source.
28 alerts
ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera confirmed a coordinated POTRAZ, ZRP Cyber Crime Division and Meta investigation into a large-scale wave of hijacked WhatsApp Business and Meta accounts affecting Zimbabwean businesses and citizens. Businesses are urged to enable extra account security and report suspicious takeovers immediately.
Econet Wireless repeated warnings urging customers to enable WhatsApp Passkeys and two-step verification, never share verification codes, and watch for unfamiliar linked devices, amid ongoing hijacking and social-engineering scams. Customers should avoid scanning unknown QR codes or dialling unverified USSD codes starting with * or #.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe warned that fraudsters are unlawfully using SECZim's name and the brands of licensed institutions, including Old Mutual Investment Group and CBZ Asset Management (Datvest), to deceive investors. The public should request a valid SECZim licence certificate from anyone offering an investment product before transacting.
Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe reminded customers that it will never ask for PIN, password, OTP or confidential banking information via phone, SMS, email or through a representative. Anyone contacted this way should end the call and report it immediately to the bank's official fraud line.
Bulawayo police warned that criminals are running fake websites mimicking Econet/EcoCash offering free data bundles, loans and gift vouchers for a small 'registration fee', after which the sites disappear with victims' money and personal details. The public is urged to verify offers at official Econet offices rather than trusting links shared online.
The Herald reported that AI tools are making fraud and fake job/recruitment scams more convincing, with criminal syndicates luring desperate jobseekers abroad into trafficking and exploitative labour through false employment offers, upfront fees and one-way flight tickets. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned citizens to be wary of overseas job agents who demand money upfront or pressure immediate travel.
Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi warned of a surge in mobile money fraud where criminals use fake online promotions, cheap data bundles and quick loan traps to trick EcoCash users into revealing PINs and OTPs, then empty their wallets. The public is urged not to click suspicious links offering deceptively cheap deals.
ZIMRA issued a public notice warning that fraudsters are posing as its employees to deceive taxpayers and extract money. Genuine ZIMRA officials always carry verifiable identification; the public should verify any contact by calling ZIMRA's official number before paying anyone.
EcoCash alerted customers that scammers use fake promotions, bargain deals and quick-loan offers requiring EcoCash payment to trick people into revealing their PIN or OTP, then drain their wallets. EcoCash stresses it will never ask for your PIN/OTP or ask you to move funds to another wallet for 'safe keeping'.
The PSC alerted the public to fake government job advertisements circulating online and reminded jobseekers that it never charges any fee for its recruitment services. Anyone asked for payment to secure a government job should treat it as a scam and verify vacancies only via the official PSC eRecruitment portal.
Criminals take over a victim's WhatsApp account (via phone theft, SIM swap or social engineering) then message the contact list asking for urgent cash transfers to a bank account or EcoCash wallet. Never send money based on a WhatsApp request alone — always call to verify, and be suspicious of urgent requests or OTP sharing.
Two directors of E-Creator, which lured thousands of Zimbabweans into depositing money via EcoCash under promises of high returns from a cryptocurrency and e-commerce platform, went on trial for defrauding victims of over US$364,000. The case shows the risk of 'investment platforms' promoted on social media by celebrities promising quick crypto profits.
Two men posing as ZIMLOAN agents were charged after applying for loans on victims' behalf using their ID numbers and OTP codes, then diverting the disbursed EcoCash funds to their own accounts when the victims tried to decline the loans. Never share your ID number or OTP with anyone claiming to be a loan agent, even if the loan appears to be in your name.
A Chinese national contacted a victim on Telegram, promising profits from online crypto trading tasks, then had him deposit over US$6,300 via EcoCash wallets before freezing the account and disappearing with the funds. Be wary of unsolicited Telegram/WhatsApp contacts offering paid 'crypto tasks' or trading with guaranteed returns.
ZIMRA named a fraud ringleader and network of impostors contacting taxpayers by SMS and phone, falsely claiming to conduct tax audits in order to demand bribes. ZIMRA states it never conducts business via SMS/WhatsApp/social media and never asks for deposits into personal bank accounts; suspicious contacts should be reported to ZIMRA Loss Control.
The Ministry warned the public about scammers impersonating ministry officials on Facebook and email, offering non-existent grants and loans and charging upfront application fees before disappearing. The Ministry confirmed it does not offer loans or grants via Facebook or email and urged citizens to ignore such adverts.
POTRAZ director-general Gift Machengete warned that foreign-registered phone numbers are being used on WhatsApp to con unsuspecting Zimbabweans out of money. Users should be suspicious of unknown foreign numbers soliciting payments or personal information.
Zimbabwe's Financial Intelligence Unit warned that unregistered schemes promising unrealistic returns and operating mainly on WhatsApp are proliferating. Check whether any investment firm is licensed before sending money, and avoid schemes promising guaranteed high profits.
Scammers in Zimbabwe are running bogus nurse-aide training colleges and fake UK job sponsorship offers, costing victims thousands of dollars after promises of visas and flights that never materialise. Police are investigating dozens of such cases; applicants should verify colleges and sponsors directly with UK employers and the Home Office register before paying any fees.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's FIU issued a warning after the E-Creator scheme caused scores of people to lose money, urging the public to confirm an entity is a registered financial service provider before investing. Victims of unregistered schemes have little legal recourse to recover lost funds.
Stoke Heath Homecare Ltd publicly warned that a woman falsely claiming to be its Zimbabwe-based recruitment agent was taking money from people promising UK care-worker certificates of sponsorship. Job seekers should confirm any 'agent' claim directly with the named UK employer before paying any money.
The Civil Registry Department warned the public about a fake website, www.zimpassport.online, falsely posing as an official portal for Zimbabwean passport applications and used to swindle applicants of money. Citizens should only use the official rg.gov.zw website or approach designated Registry offices and embassies directly.
ZIMRA warned the public about fraudsters posing as tax auditors under various false names, calling and texting taxpayers to announce fake audits and then soliciting bribes to avoid or manipulate the results. ZIMRA says it does not conduct business over personal SMS/WhatsApp/social media platforms and urges people to report such calls to police and ZIMRA offices.
Techzim reported that fraudsters were targeting Zimbabweans abroad with promises to process biometric e-passport applications for a fee, exploiting the fact that online application was not yet actually available. Diasporans were advised to rely only on official Ministry of Home Affairs and embassy channels for passport processing.
The Public Service Commission dismissed as fake a widely circulated social media message claiming it would issue waiting numbers and cards for government job seekers via the Ministry of Youth. Genuine PSC adverts are only published through national newspapers, broadcast media and its official letterhead and logo.
Police arrested a ZESA Harare headquarters employee and his agent for illegally generating and selling fraudulent prepaid electricity tokens to customers outside the official system. Customers should only buy tokens through official ZESA/ZETDC channels, banks or recognised vending platforms.
ZETDC issued a statement warning customers that accounts such as @ZETDC01 impersonate the official utility to mislead and defraud the public. Customers should only trust ZESA/ZETDC's verified official channels and ignore similar impostor accounts.
CBZ warned customers about phishing emails and messages impersonating the bank that direct victims to fake websites with similar logos and near-identical web addresses to steal account numbers, passwords and card details. CBZ said it will never ask customers to confirm login credentials or card details by email, SMS or phone.
