Deputy Defence Minister Levi Mayihlome, 71, was scammed out of US$850 after falling victim to an online get-rich-quick scheme, ZimLive reported.
The retired brigadier general reportedly responded to a Facebook advertisement posted by someone posing as socialite Zodwa Mkandla, promising significant returns through “online cash trading.” Believing the individual to be his friend of the same name, Mayihlome proceeded to invest.
According to a police report, the scammers claimed an initial investment of US$200 would yield a 25-fold return. Mayihlome transferred the US$200 to a mobile number provided by the fraudsters through an Innbucks outlet in Borrowdale. The phone number, 0776096070, is registered to a man identified as Gilbert Makombe.
Mayihlome ultimately lost a total of US$850 to the scam. Authorities are investigating the incident
