HARARE – Deputy Defence Minister Levi Mayihlome was defrauded of US$850 after falling victim to an online get-rich-quick scam, according to ZimLive.
The 71-year-old retired brigadier general responded to a Facebook advertisement from someone claiming to be Zodwa Mkandla, a name he believed belonged to a socialite friend. The ad promised significant returns from “online cash trading.”
Initially, Mayihlome invested US$200, convinced that it would yield a 25-fold return. He transferred the money to a mobile number linked to an individual named Gilbert Makombe. Subsequently, he was informed that his investment had generated a profit of US$5,300, but he was instructed to deposit an additional US$650 to access these funds.
Following this, Mayihlome made further payments of US$500 and US$150 to a different number registered to Austine Tafirei. His suspicions were raised when the scammers demanded an additional US$365 for “inland tax revenue,” prompting him to realize he had been scammed. The Avondale police are currently investigating the matter.