MANZINI – A new platinum scam is operating in Manzini City Centre, investigations by this publication have revealed.
The scam involves men who approach unsuspecting members of the public and promise them platinum deals that they claim can make them substantial amounts of money.
Investigations by this publication have established that the men operate around Manzini City Centre, where they identify potential victims before engaging them in conversations about platinum. The men present themselves as people with connections in the mining sector and claim to have access to platinum. According to people who have encountered the scammers, the men are convincing and can make the proposed transactions appear genuine. One of the people who spoke to this publication said some of the men drive flashy cars, which helps create the impression that they are successful businesspeople.
The source said the manner in which the men approach and speak to potential victims can make it difficult for an unsuspecting person to immediately realise that the deal may not be genuine. Another person who related their experience to this publication said some of the men speak with a Zulu accent and claim to be South African nationals. According to the source, the men claim to have connections within the mining sector in South Africa.
The source said these alleged connections are presented as the reason the men are able to access platinum.
The scammers then reportedly tell potential victims that they can make money from the platinum. The details of the amounts demanded from potential victims vary, but the approach involves convincing people that they are being offered an opportunity to participate in a lucrative transaction involving the precious metal. Investigations by this publication have found that the alleged platinum scam comes after previous reports of people losing substantial amounts of money in similar transactions involving platinum and other precious stones.
The latest reported victim is 40-year-old Nkonto Dlamini of Lobamba.
According to a police report, Dlamini lost E18 000 and a Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued at E10 000 after being promised platinum by two unknown men. The total value of the property allegedly lost is E28 000.
The incident reportedly occurred last Thursday, at 11am in Manzini City Centre. Dlamini was reportedly approached by the two men, who allegedly promised her platinum. The matter was reported to the police as theft by false pretences.
In May this year, a man from Siphocosini lost E150 000 after he was approached by people in Manzini and promised raw platinum.
The suspects allegedly disappeared after receiving the money. The May case is similar to the latest reports received by this publication because it also involved people being approached in Manzini and being promised platinum. It is not yet established whether the people involved in the May incident are the same people currently approaching members of the public in the city centre. However, the latest investigation indicates that the platinum promise continues to be used when approaching potential victims.
This publication has also previously reported cases involving alleged fraud through the sale of precious stones.
In December 2025, this publication reported the arrest of a suspected member of a syndicate allegedly linked to more than E1.4 million in losses. The suspect was facing 22 charges of theft by false pretences and a charge under the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act.
According to information reported by this publication at the time, the alleged operation involved different methods of defrauding members of the public, including false tenders, washa washa and the sale of precious stones.
The alleged suspects reportedly used different approaches to gain the confidence of potential victims before persuading them to part with money.
The reported cases showed that precious stones could be used as part of an alleged fraud scheme, with victims being promised substantial financial returns.
The latest investigation points to platinum being used in a similar manner.
The people who spoke to this publication said the alleged scammers do not necessarily approach their targets with an obvious demand for money. Instead, they allegedly first engage them in conversation and present themselves as people who have access to a valuable commodity. The alleged claims about mining connections are then used to make the transaction appear legitimate. The use of flashy vehicles allegedly adds to this impression. One source said the alleged scammers can appear to be ordinary businesspeople who have access to significant financial resources. The source said this makes it easier for an unsuspecting person to believe the platinum story. The identities of the men involved have not been established.
The claims that some of them are South African nationals also have not been independently verified by this publication. Similarly, the alleged claims that they have connections within South Africa’s mining sector could not be independently verified.
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