The period July to October 2023 has literally been a dry period for the business sector as it was characterised by low disposable incomes as a result of a tight monetary policy regime. A lot of electioneering funding valves opened, but funds were not freely flowing to every economic sector. We have recently experienced an upsurge in criminality especially on our social media platforms and would therefore like to sensitize our members on possible risks from now till December 2023.
Bogus ZIMRA Audits: We have received reports of small business owners being phoned by bogus auditors and being asked to pay US$80 for audits. We urge you to contact ZIMRA directly for audits being carried out especially when asked to pay bribes. Most of the auditors are bogus—do not lose money.
Partnerships: Do not enter into new partnerships especially with strangers you would have met on social media. One famous scam on the forum is of a lady called Mai Tawana who misrepresented that she could buy fish from Kariba and sell to hotels such as Holiday Inn. She would produce fake financial reports and hoodwinking investors and one pastor lost more than US$45,000 to her. This is not the time to enter into partnerships with strangers.
Phishing Links: Do not lose valuable personal information through clicking malware links. Some of the links will come as sponsorships, scholarships or prizes. You will lose your accounts to social media including banking details.
Fake Proof Of Payments: Seemingly legit POPs will appear on your phone with scammers getting goods only for you to be shocked when the Money Transfer Agent says the POP is fake. Be wary of the timing as this scam is orchestrated before closing time when one has no time to confirm.
Counterfeit Farming Inputs: Avoid buying farming inputs such as fertilizer and seeds from the streets. Harare now has a massive and thriving industry of fake products manufacturing with a lot of warehouses dotted across Mbare.
Of course the list is obviously long and we will share more information in future. Avoid the usual suspect—contracts in Victoria Falls—an old scam where victims are asked to send funds for bus fare and after doing so—the contractors witching off phones.
Farmers especially Poultry Farmers—avoid selling from your home as you could attract robbers. And try your level best to avoid congested areas in down town. The dollarization surge to also bring fake currency risks.
Hope you find this useful.
