Harare, Zimbabwe – In a disturbing evolution of romance fraud, a Harare man accused of swindling multiple women out of their life savings has reportedly turned the law into his personal shield, threatening his victims with criminal charges under the Cyber and Data Protection Act to prevent them from exposing his crimes.
Mathew Five, a nurse aide graduate, is at the center of a growing scandal involving allegations of impersonation, fraud, and legal intimidation. Operating under the pseudonym “Dr. Desmond Phiri,” Five allegedly targeted women on the dating app Tinder, portraying himself as a wealthy, US-based medical doctor seeking a serious commitment.
The Bait: A “US Doctor” and a Promise of Marriage
For the victims, the nightmare began with the promise of a fairy-tale life. Five allegedly went to great lengths to validate his fake persona:
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Digital Deception: He frequently sent photos in medical scrubs and shared spoofed “live locations” from the United States to convince women he was abroad.
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The Marriage Trap: To deepen the bond, he reportedly asked victims for their national ID numbers, claiming he needed them to “book a court marriage date” for their upcoming nuptials.
Once trust was cemented, the “emergencies” began. One victim, a woman living with a disability, recounted how Five claimed his daughter had suffered a stroke and was in urgent need of medical funds. She eventually lost over US$1,000 (approx. R18,000) before he disappeared. Another woman was lured by promises of a luxury retreat in Zanzibar, only to be defrauded of her savings.
Weaponizing the Cyber Act
The most harrowing part of the ordeal for these women isn’t just the financial loss—it’s the intimidation that followed. When victims began to speak out on social media to warn others, Five allegedly pivoted from “charming doctor” to “legal aggressor.”
In a defiant response to the allegations in January 2026, Five did not just deny the fraud; he threatened to use Zimbabwe’s cyber laws against those calling him out.
“I asked them to remove those comments, it’s all lies,” Five told reporters. “My lawyer will get back to you.”
By threatening victims with “cyber-harassment” or “defamation” under the Cyber and Data Protection Act, swindlers are increasingly exploiting the law to silence public discourse about their activities. This creates a “double victimization”: first, the loss of property, and second, the fear of being jailed for trying to recover it.
Legal Reality vs. Scammer Threats
Despite Five’s threats, legal experts emphasize that the law is not on the side of the fraudster.
| Feature | The Scammer’s Claim | The Legal Reality |
| Defamation | Victims can be jailed for “lying” about him. | Truth is a defense; reporting a crime is protected. |
| Cyber-Harassment | Exposing him on Facebook is “cyber-bullying.” | Warning the public about a fraudster is a matter of public interest. |
| Breach of Contract | He owes nothing because it was a “relationship.” | A marriage promise is a binding civil contract in Zimbabwe. |
Advocate Arthur Marara noted that victims of such “Tinder Swindlers” have the right to sue for both the recovery of their money and for damages resulting from the breach of a promise to marry.
Seeking Justice
While Five’s father, Mateyu Five, has confirmed that victims have visited their Kuwadzana home in search of his son, the alleged swindler remains elusive, reportedly operating through a network that utilizes international mobile numbers to maintain his “US doctor” facade.
As of early 2026, the victims are moving past their fear of his legal threats and are organizing to present a collective case to the civil and criminal courts, proving that a badge of “Dr.” and a threat of the “Cyber Bill” cannot hide a trail of broken lives.
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