News / Local
Desperate Zimbabweans fleeced of US$47 000 on promise of UK jobs
10 Nov 2024 at 11:03hrs | Views
The high unemployment rate in Zimbabwe has left many desperate for opportunities, and fraudsters are taking advantage of this vulnerability by offering fake job placements abroad. In the latest scam to be uncovered, two women from Bulawayo have been arrested for defrauding eight jobseekers of a total of US$47,811 by promising them employment in the United Kingdom (UK).
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Nokuthula Sibanda (63) and Nothando Ndlovu (48) operated a fraudulent job placement racket for nearly two years, targeting individuals seeking better opportunities overseas. The suspects misrepresented themselves as legitimate agencies specializing in securing jobs in the UK.
"The ZRP confirms the arrest of Nokuthula Sibanda and Nothando Ndlovu in connection with eight cases of fraud which occurred between December 2022 and November 2024 in Bulawayo. The two suspects misrepresented themselves as agencies specialising in job placements in the United Kingdom and defrauded the complainants a total of US$47,811 in cash," said ZRP national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
The fraudsters reportedly collected facilitation fees from their victims under the false promise of securing them jobs in the UK, but once the payments were made, the job placements never materialized.
The scam came to light after the victims, who had been left financially strained, reported the matter to the police. Investigations led to the arrest of Sibanda and Ndlovu, who are now facing charges of fraud. The police have since warned the public to be cautious of similar schemes that prey on people's hopes for a better future abroad.
"The ZRP urges members of the public to be vigilant and cautious when dealing with individuals or organizations that promise employment opportunities, especially overseas. The public is advised to thoroughly verify the legitimacy of any job placement offers and to avoid paying fees upfront," Commissioner Nyathi added.
This case highlights the growing trend of fraudsters exploiting the high unemployment rate in Zimbabwe, offering false promises of overseas employment in exchange for fees. The authorities have vowed to intensify efforts to crack down on such scams, which continue to exploit vulnerable citizens.
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Nokuthula Sibanda (63) and Nothando Ndlovu (48) operated a fraudulent job placement racket for nearly two years, targeting individuals seeking better opportunities overseas. The suspects misrepresented themselves as legitimate agencies specializing in securing jobs in the UK.
"The ZRP confirms the arrest of Nokuthula Sibanda and Nothando Ndlovu in connection with eight cases of fraud which occurred between December 2022 and November 2024 in Bulawayo. The two suspects misrepresented themselves as agencies specialising in job placements in the United Kingdom and defrauded the complainants a total of US$47,811 in cash," said ZRP national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
The fraudsters reportedly collected facilitation fees from their victims under the false promise of securing them jobs in the UK, but once the payments were made, the job placements never materialized.
The scam came to light after the victims, who had been left financially strained, reported the matter to the police. Investigations led to the arrest of Sibanda and Ndlovu, who are now facing charges of fraud. The police have since warned the public to be cautious of similar schemes that prey on people's hopes for a better future abroad.
"The ZRP urges members of the public to be vigilant and cautious when dealing with individuals or organizations that promise employment opportunities, especially overseas. The public is advised to thoroughly verify the legitimacy of any job placement offers and to avoid paying fees upfront," Commissioner Nyathi added.
This case highlights the growing trend of fraudsters exploiting the high unemployment rate in Zimbabwe, offering false promises of overseas employment in exchange for fees. The authorities have vowed to intensify efforts to crack down on such scams, which continue to exploit vulnerable citizens.
Source - NewZimbabwe
