CHIEF DAMBUZA LOSES E21 900 PROPERTY TO ‘FACATA’ SCAMMERS

MBABANE - Chief Dambuza Lukhele is the latest victim of the ‘facata’ scams.  

The chief reportedly lost property worth E21 900 to ‘facata’ scammers. The property stolen under false pretences include E6 000 cash and a laptop valued at E15 900. Information gathered was to the effect that the chief, who once served as a minister and in different councils (emabandla) in the country, reported the scammers to the police after he allegedly suffered the actual loss. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the report of an elderly man who was scammed property valued at E21 900. Vilakati said investigations are ongoing, promising that the police will do everything in their powers to get hold of the perpetrators.

Arrested

This comes at a time when the Royal Eswatini Police Service has arrested over 30 people in connection with the offence, which affected emaSwati countrywide. The scammers supposedly trick their targets into entering personal information on their cellphones, which allows them to remotely withdraw money from the victims’ Mobile Money (MoMo) and bank accounts. The alleged scammers have made their appearances before different courts, charged for contravening Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011 as well as theft by false pretence.

However, some of the accused persons had been admitted to bail at the High Court. Meanwhile, two men appeared at the Manzini Magistrates Court in connection with ‘facata’ scams.
Yenzokuhle Meluleki Mbingo (20) and Sanele Veli Mbingo (40), both from Timbutini, appeared before Manzini Magistrate Thamsanqa Ndlovu, facing 24 and 20 counts, respectively. The charges included violations of the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act No. 6 of 2022, the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011, and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. It was reported that the crimes affected victims in Mbabane, Mantabeni, Pigg’s Peak and Mangwaneni within the Manzini Region. Allegations suggested that the men often posed as MTN employees seeking to update information under the guise of the company. They were each remanded in custody until January 1, 2025, pending their committal to the High Court.

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