Over the past few months, Zimbabwe has been hit by a well-orchestrated car scam targeting individuals eager to purchase personal vehicles. Unscrupulous fraudsters, believed to be based in Beitbridge, Musina, or Harare, have been exploiting unsuspecting victims through a rent-to-own vehicle scheme.
The scammers use various mobile phone numbers to execute their plans and defraud unsuspecting car buyers. They promise individuals the opportunity to own a car with no down payment, but demand administration fees and delivery costs ranging from $250 to $300. Rarely do they charge more than $300, unless the individual is interested in a truck or minibus, which have higher associated fees.
The fraudsters carefully craft their advertisements on social media platforms like WhatsApp groups, Facebook, and other informal outlets. As soon as the money is transferred through mobile payments, the scammers disappear, with the phone number becoming unreachable. Dozens of people, some as far away as Australia who were trying to buy cars for loved ones in Zimbabwe, have fallen victim to this scheme.
One typical social media advertisement reads: "SBT MOTORS ZIMBABWE - Rent to Buy A Car. It is buying a car on credit with zero deposit and start paying for it after 30 days while using it for 18 months (instalments)." The ad goes on to claim that the company will handle all the necessary paperwork, including vehicle registration, taxes, and insurance.
However, upon closer inspection, these advertisements contain several grammatical and structural errors, raising red flags for discerning readers. Investigators believe the scammers may be utilizing modern mobile applications to identify and target potential victims, using tactics like verifying names and details through mobile money transfers, online platforms, and search engines.
Beitbridge lawyer and former magistrate Jabulani Mzinyathi has taken to social media to warn the public about these con artists, stating that he has clients across the country who have fallen victim to the scam. Despite efforts to locate the scammers at the advertised physical addresses, the addresses proved to be non-existent.
Vendors operating along Beitbridge's Granite Road have also reported seeing numerous individuals inquiring about the car sales locations, only to realize they had been duped. The wording and structure of the advertisements, though presented under different company names, remain strikingly similar, signalling the work of a well-coordinated scheme.
Source: Newsday
