COPS HOT ON HEELS OF ‘FACATA’ KINGPIN

MBABANE - Police believe that there is a kingpin behind the ‘facata’ scams, orchestrating the entire operation, and have vowed to track them down.

‘Facata’ is a pseudo name for cyber security crime that involves the use of cellphones. This was disclosed by Badelisa Magagula, a Cyber Security Specialist from the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), who was speaking at the MTN headquarters in Ezulwini. The telecommunications company hosted the media to provide updates on the ongoing investigations into the ‘facata’ scams in the country, and also to send further warnings on how customers can protect themselves.It is also worth mentioning that the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, Vusi Masango, issued a stern warning to ‘facata’ scammers, stating that the law will take its course.

Scammers

The NATCOM made these remarks during the launch of the 2024 Fraud Awareness Week at Royal Villas last week. Additionally, during a police prayer service, the NATCOM urged the scammers to surrender, as their escape routes were becoming increasingly limited. The ‘facata’  scam, a sophisticated form of fraud, involves deceiving individuals into believing they have received funds, often via Mobile Money transfer platforms. Victims are then pressured into releasing goods or services, or return the supposed funds. Law enforcement agencies have made significant strides in combating this crime.

At the event at MTN Eswatini’s Headquarters, Magagula also expressed his gratitude to all the stakeholders on behalf of the police, thanking them for their contributions in ensuring the smooth continuation of investigations into the ‘facata’ scams. This comes shortly after the country marked Fraud Awareness Week, last week. “We do not keep the information we require for investigations but rely on entities such as banks and mobile network providers like MTN. It is through their cooperation that we are able to carry out these investigations,” he said.

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