Bulawayo, (New Ziana)– Police in Bulawayo are investigating a case of fraud in which a 35-year-old woman from was duped of more than US$16 000 in a suspected online vehicle scam.
Bulawayo provincial assistant police spokesperson, Thandekile Ndlovu said on Tuesday the complainant was lured into the deal after seeing an advert on Facebook.
“On April 7, 2026, at around 10AM, the complainant came across an advert on Facebook posted by an unknown suspect advertising a grey Toyota Quantum vehicle under the group ‘Quality Import Cars’,” said Ndlovu.
She said the woman then contacted the alleged seller via WhatsApp and expressed interest in purchasing the vehicle, before proceeding to make a series of payments.
“The complainant made payments amounting to a total of US$16 031. After paying the full agreed amount, the suspect demanded additional money, which raised suspicion,” she explained.
Ndlovu added that when the woman refused to make further payments, the suspect became unreachable.
“The suspect switched off his mobile phone and could no longer be contacted. It was at that point that the complainant realised she had been defrauded and subsequently made a police report,” she said.
According to Ndhlovu, nothing has been recovered so far, and investigations are in progress to bring the culprits to book.
She warned members of the public to be vigilant when conducting transactions online, particularly involving high-value goods such as vehicles.
“We urge members of the public to exercise extreme caution when buying vehicles or any goods through social media platforms.
“Always verify the authenticity of the seller and insist on physically inspecting the goods before making any payments,” she said.
Ndlovu further advised against transferring money to unknown individuals, noting that fraudsters are increasingly exploiting digital platforms to target unsuspecting buyers.
New Ziana
