News / National
Surge in fake EcoCash online scams
3 hrs ago |
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Residents in Bulawayo have been urged to remain vigilant following a rise in online scams offering fake EcoCash benefits, including free data bundles, loans, and gift vouchers.
Police say unsuspecting victims are being lured into paying small "registration fees" ranging from US$5 to US$10 through fraudulent websites and social media adverts. Once payment is made, the platforms reportedly disappear or become inaccessible, leaving victims without the promised services or refunds.
Authorities revealed that the scams are being carried out using fake websites designed to closely mimic official platforms associated with Econet Wireless and its mobile money service.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Nomalanga Msebele said the number of reported cases is increasing, with scammers targeting individuals seeking affordable internet access.
"On EcoCash-related fraud cases, we are dealing with criminals who are setting up fake websites that pretend to offer services such as free data bundles, gift vouchers, or even soft loans. These platforms are designed to look genuine, but their aim is to deceive members of the public," she said.
"They usually demand a so-called registration fee, then proceed to request personal details such as phone numbers, national ID numbers, and EcoCash account information. We want the public to clearly understand that these are not legitimate services."
Msebele added that many of the fraudulent sites are near-perfect replicas of legitimate company pages, making them difficult for users to identify.
"In most cases, these websites are fake copies of real companies like Econet. When you look closely, you will find that Econet itself has nothing to do with these pages," she said.
Residents have already begun reporting losses. One victim, Tafadzwa Gumbo, said he was convinced by an advert promising 30GB of data for a US$5 fee.
"It looked real because it had Econet logos and even comments from people saying they had received the data," he said.
"I followed the instructions, paid the money, and filled in my details. After that, the website stopped opening."
Another resident, Rudo Chikomo, said she was persuaded to pay additional fees after initially signing up.
"They first told me to pay US$5, and I paid thinking I would get a loan or some benefits. Then they asked for another US$10 for a bigger loan. The next day the website refused to open," she said.
Police have urged members of the public to avoid clicking on unsolicited links and to verify any promotions directly through official Econet platforms or physical offices.
Authorities say awareness and caution remain the most effective tools in combating the growing wave of digital fraud.
Police say unsuspecting victims are being lured into paying small "registration fees" ranging from US$5 to US$10 through fraudulent websites and social media adverts. Once payment is made, the platforms reportedly disappear or become inaccessible, leaving victims without the promised services or refunds.
Authorities revealed that the scams are being carried out using fake websites designed to closely mimic official platforms associated with Econet Wireless and its mobile money service.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Nomalanga Msebele said the number of reported cases is increasing, with scammers targeting individuals seeking affordable internet access.
"On EcoCash-related fraud cases, we are dealing with criminals who are setting up fake websites that pretend to offer services such as free data bundles, gift vouchers, or even soft loans. These platforms are designed to look genuine, but their aim is to deceive members of the public," she said.
"They usually demand a so-called registration fee, then proceed to request personal details such as phone numbers, national ID numbers, and EcoCash account information. We want the public to clearly understand that these are not legitimate services."
Msebele added that many of the fraudulent sites are near-perfect replicas of legitimate company pages, making them difficult for users to identify.
"In most cases, these websites are fake copies of real companies like Econet. When you look closely, you will find that Econet itself has nothing to do with these pages," she said.
Residents have already begun reporting losses. One victim, Tafadzwa Gumbo, said he was convinced by an advert promising 30GB of data for a US$5 fee.
"It looked real because it had Econet logos and even comments from people saying they had received the data," he said.
"I followed the instructions, paid the money, and filled in my details. After that, the website stopped opening."
Another resident, Rudo Chikomo, said she was persuaded to pay additional fees after initially signing up.
"They first told me to pay US$5, and I paid thinking I would get a loan or some benefits. Then they asked for another US$10 for a bigger loan. The next day the website refused to open," she said.
Police have urged members of the public to avoid clicking on unsolicited links and to verify any promotions directly through official Econet platforms or physical offices.
Authorities say awareness and caution remain the most effective tools in combating the growing wave of digital fraud.
Source - Cite
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