Story by Ropafadzo Mangome
TWO men have been sentenced to an effective nine months in prison after defrauding a mobile money agent of US$300 using a fake cash-out confirmation message.
Brian Potedzerai (45) and Thulani Dhlamini (30) were convicted of fraud by a Gweru court following the incident, which occurred on 6 November 2025 in the city’s central business district.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the pair approached a mobile money shop and presented what appeared to be a legitimate cash-out confirmation.
“The offenders approached the victim at a mobile money shop in Gweru CBD and presented a fake cash-out message to the female victim. Believing the message to be genuine, the victim handed over US$300,” the NPAZ said.
The fraud was uncovered shortly afterwards.
“The victim realised she had been defrauded while serving another customer and immediately reported the matter to the police. The duo was identified on CCTV footage,” the authority added.
The court initially sentenced the pair to 16 months’ imprisonment. However, three months were suspended for five years, and a further four months were suspended on condition that they restitute the complainant, leaving an effective custodial sentence of nine months.
The case comes amid growing concern over mobile money fraud, with criminals increasingly exploiting fake transaction confirmations and weaknesses in verification processes to target agents and members of the public.
Authorities have urged mobile money operators and customers to remain vigilant and to verify transactions thoroughly before releasing cash, warning that technological advancements have been accompanied by a rise in fraud-related offences.
