The ManicaPost
Luxson Chananda
FRAUD cases highlighted in the previous edition of this paper prompted a few individuals whom I had an opportunity to meet to ask whether victims are not fortune hunters who end up at the receiving end of the deal. True as it may be to some extent, the fact remains that fraudsters exploit any of the vulnerable points previously discussed to their advantage.
The majority of cases involve ordinary law-abiding citizens and persons in lawful entrepreneurship. If you do not keep your ears wide open and nose low on the ground, criminals will pounce on you, leaving you ashamed to report some of the dirty tricks you would have fallen for.
You remember the story of the shepherd who was made to pay money by a stranger so that his sheep could drink water from a pool which he only pointed at from a distance during one hot afternoon. The pool turned out to be a mirage.
We continue to look at some of the ways employed by fraudsters and how we can avoid falling victim to their activities.
The purchase of property online has proved to be very convenient in a number of ways to most people, but has had disastrous results where care is not taken in the way one goes about this process.
Criminals are known to open websites which show them as having companies or shops that deal in certain products.
The prices appear very competitive and victims see themselves making huge profits. As a result they are made to transfer money into the dubious company’s account and that is the end of the story.
There is need to verify the authenticity of social networks and websites before joining or making any purchases to avoid online fraud.
While the talk of micro and macro finance institutions can open up old wounds especially among Mutare residents, it can never be out of place to keep reminding each other of the existence of illegal entities in this field.
Illegal micro-finance institutions sprouted in most parts of the country a few years back and many people lost money to them hoping to supplement their income or start some project. The scourge is still with us.
Do not invest in a micro-finance institution before conducting a thorough verification of its operations.
Most criminals can be mobile claiming to be opening up a new branch in a particular locality.
They can have documents, credentials or even vehicles bearing the logo of a non-existing company.
Some will try to prove their authenticity by taking you to either a police station, municipal council or some other offices where they will leave you behind claiming to have been talking to some officials at the premises.
Do not be fooled. Be part of the process and verify.
In housing schemes, it is prudent to verify with local authorities and deeds offices before one attempts to purchase a house or stand.
Police have dealt with a number of cases where people have been duped of their money through buying non-existing houses and stands or those belonging to people other than the seller. A step ahead would be to physically visit the sites before venturing into any transaction.
Another form of fraud has been that involving forging and tampering with books of accounts in shops and other places of business.
Business persons of whatever level must carry out random checks of their order books, cheque books and all other documents that may be used to commit fraud.
Employees are often tempted to help themselves to company funds or goods where there is a lapse in stock-taking, regular audits or simply proper business record keeping.
In all cases it would seem that the golden rule should always be to probe. Do not leave anything to chance. As a developing community in crime prevention, we should be at that stage where we have outgrown falling for old tricks like ‘‘chadonha’’.
This is where the criminal drops in front of the targeted victim, a bundle of ordinary paper cut to the size of and stashed between genuine notes to look like a wad of money.
The victim is then lured to a secluded place with prospects of sharing the money. He or she will be made to surrender cash in his or her possession to avoid mixing the money with that ‘‘found’’.
The criminals will request to go to the toilet or give some other excuse which will not be a problem at all with the victim as he will be in possession of ‘‘large sums of money’’.
The criminal never returns leaving the victim to discover the heap of paper.
Most of these criminal activities are done in broad daylight and certain places around town have been known to be hunting ground for these fraudsters. Do not be caught in this net. Some things are just too good to be true.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has a specialised unit that deals with cases of serious fraud. The unit can provide information and advice on how to safeguard yourselves from these cases.
It is, however, important to note that all stations in Zimbabwe are prepared to receive and deal with the cases as far as possible.
It is for this reason that the ZRP in Manicaland has opened a WhatsApp line which will afford you the opportunity to supply any crime tips and information. The number is 0783 410 710.
You are assured that all your tips will be actioned and responses to any request for information on any matter to do with crime and policing will be provided.
Inserted by ZRP Press and Public Relations, Manicaland Province
