Con woman nabbed in Harare

Police yesterday arrested a Harare woman for allegedly swindling several people in Waterfalls of cash and other valuables after duping maids that she would have been sent by their employers, the Herald reported.

Moreblessing Mabvura is alleged to have misrepresented to her victims that their employers would have asked her to collect money for "society" schemes from them. Mabvura was in custody at Waterfalls Police Station where she was assisting police with investigations.

Police sources yesterday said Mabvura would approach the maids asking them for the owner of the house.

"If the maid tells her that the mother of the house is not available, she would pretend as if she has forgotten the name of her victim and when the maid volunteers information she would save the name and put one of her phone numbers on it," said the police.

"She would then send a message using another phone instructing the maid to collect money from one of the jackets in the wardrobe."

The police source said Mabvura managed to swindle several unsuspecting maids using the same modus operandi.

It is alleged that in cases where the maid failed to get money, Mabvura would get in the house and before texting herself instructing the maid to give her electrical gadgets she would have noticed.

"She would pretend to be the owner of the house in the text message, instructing the maid to give her items like computers and iPads without the victims suspecting anything," said the police source.

Mabvura's luck ran out when a maid who had already fallen prey to her misrepresentation gave her an iPad before realising that she had been duped.

While Mabvura was on her way out, the maid asked her to return and collect the gadget's password.

The maid alerted neighbours who helped her apprehend Mabvura who was taken to Waterfalls Police Station where other complainants had made similar reports against her.