Police hunt suspect in SIM swap fraud

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched a manhunt for Tranos Taurai Muzanenhamo, who is wanted in connection with a string of sophisticated SIM swap and hacking fraud cases involving over US$17,000 and ZW$30 million.

According to police reports, Muzanenhamo allegedly spearheaded a well-coordinated cybercrime scheme that targeted unsuspecting victims by exploiting personal information obtained through phishing, data breaches, and public records.

He is accused of using social engineering techniques to trick mobile service providers into issuing fraudulent SIM replacements — effectively gaining control of victims' phone numbers.

Once the SIM swaps were successfully executed, victims' legitimate mobile lines were deactivated, giving Muzanenhamo access to their digital banking platforms, mobile money wallets, and social media accounts.

Police say he proceeded to withdraw funds from victims' financial accounts using online platforms and, in some cases, impersonated victims on WhatsApp to solicit money from their contacts.

Confirming the development, National Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi appealed to the public for assistance in locating the suspect and warned citizens to remain alert against identity theft and digital fraud.

"The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information that may assist to locate Tranos Taurai Muzanenhamo, who is wanted in connection with several cases of fraudulent SIM replacements and hacking involving USD17,009.50 and ZWG30,665,912.30," said Commissioner Nyathi.

He urged the public to safeguard their personal information and called on mobile network operators to strengthen their identity verification systems to prevent further incidents of SIM swap fraud.

"Members of the public are warned to be vigilant and protect their personal information. We also urge mobile network operators to strengthen verification systems to prevent such fraudulent activities," he added.

Police have encouraged anyone with information on Muzanenhamo's whereabouts to report to their nearest police station immediately.

The latest case underscores growing concerns about cybercrime and digital identity fraud in Zimbabwe, where authorities have repeatedly warned of rising incidents involving mobile money and online banking systems.