MBABANE – A 63-year-old woman of Sidwashini in Mbabane has been scammed of a sum of E258 710 through TikTok.
The fraudster is believed to have promised the woman lucrative investment opportunities. She reported to police that between June and September 2025, while in Mbabane, she was lured by an unknown person through the popular video-sharing platform.
The fraudster convinced her to part with her money under false pretences, promising high returns that never materialised.
Sources revealed that the victim was approached through TikTok, a fast-growing social media application that allows users to create and share short videos ranging from dance clips, comedy skits, tutorials, to product promotions.
The App, owned by the Chinese technology company ByteDance, is also widely used by businesses, influencers and advertisers to reach global audiences. While TikTok is generally designed for entertainment and networking, its rapid popularity has also created fertile ground for cybercriminals.
Scammers often pose as financial advisors, entrepreneurs or social media influencers, using persuasive content to lure unsuspecting users into fraudulent schemes. In the country, most cyber fraud cases have traditionally been linked to ‘facata’ scams and Facebook fraudsters.
However, the elderly woman’s ordeal marks a new trend in the country’s cybercrime landscape – one that highlights the evolving methods used by online criminals. The matter is still being investigated by the police.
The incident comes at a time when the country is observing its annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month spearheaded by the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM), under the theme ‘Secure Eswatini, Be Safe Online’ – or ‘Asichumane Siphephile’.
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