By JOHN SAKALA
Five Zambian nationals have reported to the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria of being swindled various amounts of money amounting to over one hundred eighty -five thousand (R185, 000) Rands.
The five were swindled on different occasions through the online payment system by unscrupulous people while trying to purchase various goods from South Africa.
Among those swindled include civil servants, farmers and businessmen.
According to the documentation made available to the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria, one of the five people lost over one hundred thousand rand (R100, 000) which was paid for the purchase of a second hand John Deere tractor and trailer.
Others lost various amounts of forty five (R45, 000) thousand and about six (R6000) thousand meant for purchases of motor vehicle and Turkey birds respectively.
And Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa mmanuel Mwamba has expressed concern with the growing number of Zambians losing money to unscrupulous people.
Mr Mwamba warned that cybercrime was real and the fraudsters were using social media and internet infrastructure to dupe and defraud.
He said the Mission was overwhelmed with reports of Zambians being swindled while trying to purchase goods from that country.
Mr Mwamba advised would-be buyers of goods from that country to verify the existence of the companies they were doing business with before making any payments.
He said victims were scammed ranging from on-line payments, to those sending money to fellow Zambians based in South Africa.
He has since appealed to those swindled to formally complain to both South African and Zambian Police so that they help bring the swindlers to book.
This is according to a media statement made available by First Secretary Press and Public Relations and Zambia’s High Commission, South Africa Naomi Nyawali.
