BARELY 48 hours after one internet scammer was cornered, Police have arrested another, a 22- year-old man of Mtendere East in Lusaka who has swindled unsuspecting members of society out of over a K1 million.
Police yesterday revealed that working with ZICTA, they apprehended Paul Kawewe and recovered 19 sim cards from him used for scamming people to a tune of K1 million.
Police spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga said the suspect was in custody facing one count of impersonation and five counts of obtaining money by false pretences.
“He has since been officially charged and arrested for the subject offences,” he said.
Mr Hamoonga said this was after police had received a report of impersonation on December 16, 2021 from Mr Chanda Brian, aged 20 of Chalala, a businessman dealing in the supply of clothing and accessories that an unknown person was impersonating him by advertising his products through a fake Instagram page called “Chanda Brian 2000.”
He said Mr Chanda discovered that the suspect would collect money from unsuspecting members of the public via Airtel money.
“This occurred between 2019 and December 16, 2021,” said Mr Hamoonga.
He urged the public to be wary of online scammers who had mushroomed on the cyber space due to the increased use of online purchases which has been prompted by the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the proprietor of a Facebook account “My TV Zambia,” Maxwell Mwamba has been charged and arrested on allegations of obtaining about K4, 798, 299 by false pretenses between 2019 and December 2021.
It is alleged that Mr Mwamba, aged 29, of unknown house number Acacia Park, Chilanga advertised appliances such as televisions, radios and cellphones on the said platform, to which members of the public would send money via Airtel money and an invoice would be issued but would not receive the item paid for.
Mr Hamoonga said police working with ZICTA recovered seven sim cards and three cell phones used to scam people.
Mr Hamoonga said in a statement that so far 10 dockets had been opened.
“We are appealing to the public who may have been swindled to report at Chelston Police Station. The suspect is in custody and will appear in court soon,” he said.
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