A Harare businessman was swindled out of more than US$37,000 through a series of fake identities, fabricated adultery accusations, fake medical conditions, and even a staged death of individuals who never existed.
Shockingly, the alleged perpetrator behind the scheme is the man’s own aunt, Simakuhle Ncube, who created an intricate web of lies to manipulate him into sending money over time.
Drawing comparisons to the infamous Netflix crime documentary The Tinder Swindler, Ncube initiated contact with her nephew, Culverwell Tawanda Venge, through an online connection, using her knowledge of his financial status—gained through her marriage to his uncle.
On a recent court appearance, prosecutors revealed that Ncube had begun this elaborate scheme in October of last year, continuing until August. She invented several fictional personas, including “Tarisai Mlambo,” “Brian Mususa,” “Portia,” and “Mrs Mlambo,” each with a role to play in the extortion.
Posing as a student in need of accounting lessons, the fictional Tarisai reached out to Venge.
They began communicating on WhatsApp, eventually developing a romantic relationship through flirtatious messages.
Soon, the fake husband character, Brian Mususa, supposedly discovered their affair and confronted Venge through Ncube. According to Ncube, this fictional Brian demanded financial compensation for the alleged affair, leading Venge to pay US$2,500 in early November.