Harare, Zimbabwe | The 71-year-old retired brigadier general was tricked after responding to a Facebook advertisement from someone claiming to be Zodwa Mkandla, a name he recognized as a socialite friend.
The ad promoted a scheme promising significant returns through “online cash trading.”
Mayihlome initially invested US$200, which the scammers claimed would multiply 25 times. He made the payment at an Innbucks outlet in Borrowdale, sending the money to a phone number registered to Gilbert Makombe.
Later, he was told he had made a profit of US$5,300 but needed to deposit an additional US$650 to withdraw the funds. Mayihlome complied, making further payments of US$500 and US$150 to another number registered to Austine Tafirei.
When the scammers demanded an extra US$365 for “inland tax revenue,” Mayihlome realized he had been defrauded and reported the matter to the police. The Avondale police are now investigating.
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