A pensioner lost a huge chunk of his retirement package after hackers obtained a duplicate SIM card and used it to access his bank accounts, the Harare Magistrates Court heard on Thursday.
Edson Chisina, 54, retired from the civil service on November 26, 2023.
He was expecting his retirement payout on December 21, 2023, but his phone which is connected to two bank accounts suddenly stopped working and was showing a network error message.
Anesu Chirenje, prosecuting, said: “On the same day, his retirement packages were deposited into his accounts, totalling ZWL370,759,874.73.
“The accused unlawfully replaced the complainant’s SIM card before transferring the funds to various bank accounts.”
From December 21, 2023, to December 23, 2023, ZWL50,000,000 was transferred to a company called Bluelight Logistics; ZWL50,000,000 to Wembly Investments and ZWL30,000,000 was transferred to one Sibusiso Nleya’s bank account, along with additional transfers to various other CBZ accounts.
On December 23, Chisina was able to get a replacement SIM and after restoring it he received notifications of the transactions which he never authorised. His accounts had been debited by ZWL172,349,999 and US$733.
Prosecutors say Chisina was a victim of a sophisticated con run by Miriam Matiyenga of Chitungwiza, 47, Chipo Moyana of South Chishawasha, 45, and 35-year-old Oswald Nyika from Seke.
Investigators were able to link the payment to Bluelight Logistics to Nyika.
Nyika evaded arrest until February 11 when police received a tip-off about his location. He implicated the two women.
Harare regional magistrate Marewanazvo granted the trio US$300 bail each. They will return to court on March 26.
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