Fake doctor scams women

A HARARE man is facing allegations that he masqueraded as a medical doctor based in the United States to charm and allegedly defraud several women he met on a popular dating app.

The man, identified as Mathew Five, is accused of assuming a fake identity under the name Desmond Phiri and claiming he was an American-based medical doctor as part of an elaborate romance scam. Some of the women allege they lost significant sums of money after being promised marriage and a lavish lifestyle.

According to the complainants, Five allegedly told some of the women that he intended to marry them, while others were promised overseas trips. One woman claims she was promised a weekend retreat in Zanzibar, complete with US$8 000 in spending money.

Among the alleged victims is a disabled woman who narrated how the relationship unfolded after they met on Tinder.

"We met on Tinder, then in person when he said he was relocating to America. He would often send pictures and live locations in the US and said he had a farm," she said.

She alleged that Five later began requesting money, claiming to be facing various personal crises.

"He started saying he was having problems which needed money. At one time he asked for money saying his daughter had been admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke," she said.

She further claimed that Five introduced her to a woman he described as his cousin, who would also ask for money, citing a lack of groceries and other basic needs.

"He told me he was divorced and wanted to marry me in February. He would ask for my ID saying he wanted to book a court marriage date. I lost over a thousand dollars until he just went quiet," she said.

Her account mirrors several others shared by women who say they were emotionally manipulated and financially prejudiced.

Contacted for comment, Five denied the allegations, insisting they stem from one woman whom he identified as Nyasha.

"I have made a payment plan to reimburse her money," he said.

"Yes, I am married and I am not in the country. Those women are telling lies. I asked them to remove those comments — it's all lies. My lawyer will get back to you," he said.

He also claimed that photographs of him in medical uniforms were linked to nurse-aide programmes he was involved in, not evidence that he was a qualified doctor.

Five's father, Mateyu Five, said he only became aware of the allegations after a woman arrived at his house in Kuwadzana 5 looking for his son.

"Yes, there is one who came here looking for my son and told me about these dating issues," he said. "I have no contact with my son because he reaches out when he wants to. I have nothing to say about this; the women must speak to my son, not me."

An InDrive driver, who has been named by some complainants as part of the alleged syndicate, distanced himself from the matter, saying he was only hired to run errands.

"I don't work with that guy. I only did regular errands for him until he blocked me, yet he owes me money," the driver said.

Some of the victims allege that Five operates with an unidentified woman and uses multiple roaming American and South African phone numbers, as well as several local mobile lines.

Several complainants have taken to Facebook to warn others about Five, alleging that he has threatened them with cyberbullying charges if they do not remove their posts.

One Facebook comment reads:
"Uyu ka handina mate naye, haaa siyai henyu munofa, Dr Mathew, and ane mushonga unotobeliever. It took me seven years to forgive him; he ruined my life in the worst way. Mwari ka."

Victims who spoke on condition of anonymity said they intend to pursue the matter through the civil courts.

Legal expert Advocate Arthur Marara said the allegations point to what is commonly known as a "Tinder swindler" scenario.

"This is a case where women, often desperate for marriage, become victims of conmen," Marara said.

He explained that Zimbabwean law recognises a promise of marriage as a binding civil contract.

"A person can sue for damages if a partner breaks a promise to marry. While it is not a crime to break an engagement, the aggrieved party must prove that a firm promise existed and was broken without just cause," he said.

The matter has not yet been tested in court, and no criminal charges have been confirmed at this stage.