A con artist masquerading as a Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) official has swindled thousands of dollars from unsuspecting victims in a well-orchestrated scam involving fake vehicle sales.
Speaking to Great Dyke News, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Midlands spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, only identified as Mageza, who has been running the fraudulent scheme since July 2024. The scammer allegedly convinced victims that he was responsible for disposing of forfeited vehicles, only to disappear after pocketing their money.
One of the victims, businessman Honest Mahleka from Joel Business Centre in Zhombe, fell prey to Mageza’s deception after being lured into a fake deal for a Toyota Hiace and a Nissan AD Van at a supposed bargain price of $8,500 USD.
According to police reports, Mageza instructed Mahleka to send payments through multiple EcoCash accounts, a classic red flag for fraud. The funds were transferred as follows:
• $2,000 to Sharon Rabson (EcoCash: 0780 816 279)
• $2,000 to (EcoCash: 0780 646 367)
• $2,000 to Pawlyn Chuma (EcoCash: 0777 913 854)
• $1,000 to Tyson Kufara (EcoCash: 0784 860 146)
• $1,000 to Tabeth Cingwe (EcoCash: 0775 476 564)
Once the transactions were completed, Mageza became unreachable, leaving Mahleka with no vehicles and a gaping financial loss.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Mageza’s whereabouts to come forward as investigations continue. The police have also advised the public to conduct thorough background checks before engaging in high-value transactions, especially with individuals claiming to have access to seized property.
