The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
FARMERS across the country are losing substantial amounts of money through cyber fraud when they try to buy implements from unknown and dubious online suppliers, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Commercial Crimes Division Northern Region spokesperson, Detective Assistant Inspector Tom Mleya has said.
In his presentation during a consumer engagement and outreach programme hosted by Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ), the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) at Beacon Hill Village in Chipinge District, Detective Assistant Inspector Mleya urged farmers to thoroughly verify the identity of their suppliers before engaging in transactions.
“People can contact their intended victims or advertise agricultural equipment from South Africa. They will give you quotations, for example if one wants to buy a tractor.
“They will furnish you with account details for you to make the payments. Many farmers have lost their money through this. We urge farmers to conduct due diligence when buying implements so that they get a thorough understanding of the company they intend to deal with it.
“People should establish the existence of such companies by contacting the police before committing anything. As the police, we do this in conjunction with Interpol.
“This is what we call due diligence. At the end of the day, as the police we will try to recover lost money and arrest culprits, but it is not easy, so prevention is better,” he said.
Detective Assistant Inspector Mleya said production and sale of fake inputs is also on the increase.
“There is also the selling of fake inputs, particularly fertilisers and seeds. Some get genuine and branded fertiliser bags and package loaded with a fake product, in some cases even river sand. Avoid being a victim by buying from known and registered outlets,” he said.
Detective Assistant Inspector Mleya said the use of the social media has worsened agro-cyber fraud.
“Social media aided fraud cases are on the increase. Please do not forward messages advertising products when you know nothing about the supplier.
“Many products, especially agricultural products, are being posted on social media platforms. This is worsened by the fact that some crooks hack reputable company’s websites and collect money from unsuspecting clients. Please make sure you are paying the correct company representative. This can only be done after verifying the identity of the person you are dealing with,” said Detective Assistant Inspector Mleya.
Addressing villagers during the same event, POTRAZ Director-General, Dr Gift Machengete, who was represented by the organisation’s head of consumer affairs, Dr Vengesai Magadzire, said ICTs have been identified as a key catalyst in achieving Vision 2030.
“ICTs are pivotal in fostering social and economic development. This day calls for concerted efforts and collaboration in a bid to create an enabling environment for Zimbabweans. That environment can only be achieved if the consumer is protected. Working together allows for effective protection of consumer rights,” he said.
Villagers at Beacon Hill had the opportunity to get valuable information on consumer rights and responsibilities, mobile financial services, cyber security issues as well as understanding the roles of POTRAZ, CPC, CCZ as well as the country’s Central Bank, RBZ.
