Harare chicken farmer loses 250 birds and US$1,500 to scam

A Harare poultry farmer is counting her losses after being duped of 250 chickens worth US$1,500 by two men who paid her with a single US$20 note and a stack of worthless old Zimbabwe dollar bills.

Lucia Nyamayaro told ZimLive that she had been contacted via Facebook by a "customer" using mobile numbers 0787393755 and 0788682398 after advertising dressed chickens for sale. The buyer allegedly ordered 250 birds for US$1,500 and arranged to meet at Strathaven shops at 6:00 AM, claiming to own a nearby butchery.

"The man I had been talking to didn’t show up, but two other guys arrived in a Toyota Hilux, registration AFT 7625, saying they worked for him," Nyamayaro said.

"They handed me a bunch of cash tied with a rubber band in US$10 and US$20 notes. I counted and confirmed it was US$1,500. They then said they needed to fetch the keys to the butchery from their boss’s house nearby and couldn’t leave both the money and the chickens with me."

Nyamayaro returned the cash temporarily, but the men insisted on taking the chickens. As she loaded the birds into their vehicle, they handed her what she believed was the same bundle of cash  -  before jumping into their Hilux and speeding off.

When she checked the money, she discovered it consisted of a single US$20 note wrapped around obsolete Zimbabwe dollar bills.

"I could cry. I went through so much to raise these chickens for this order, and to lose all that money like this is heartbreaking," Nyamayaro said.

The matter has been reported to Avondale Police Station under crime reference number RRB 6484751.

Police and the victim are urging anyone who recognises the suspects to contact the nearest station or call Nyamayaro on 0772972380.