Businessman Duped Out of $37K in Bizarre Catfishing Scheme Orchestrated by His Own Aunt
Businessman Duped Out of $37K in Bizarre Catfishing Scheme Orchestrated by His Own Aunt
In one of the most elaborate extortion schemes imaginable, a Harare businessman was conned out of over US$37,000 by none other than his own aunt, Simakuhle Ncube, who crafted an intricate web of deception involving fake characters, a fabricated love affair, fictitious illnesses, and even a non-existent trip to India for medical treatment.
Ncube, allegedly the mastermind behind the scam, is accused of creating several fake personas, including “Tarisai Mlambo,” a woman supposedly in need of accounting lessons, who initiated a romantic relationship with the businessman, Culverwell Tawanda Venge, through WhatsApp.
The plot thickened when Ncube introduced another fake character, “Brian Mususa,” posing as Tarisai’s enraged husband, who demanded hefty compensation from Venge for supposedly pursuing his wife.
Venge, fearing for his life after being told Mususa was connected to the Central Intelligence Organisation, paid US$2,500 initially, followed by escalating sums.
Ncube continued to exploit Venge’s fear and emotions, claiming that Tarisai had developed severe hypertension and required medical treatment.
The businessman was persuaded to pay hospital bills and eventually foot the costs for a fake operation, which led to the supposed referral of Tarisai to India for further procedures.
The scam, reminiscent of Netflix’s crime thriller ‘Tinder Swindler,’ only came to light when Venge realized the extent of the deception. Ncube was arrested and appeared in court, facing charges of fraud.
Prosecutors detailed how she used the fake characters and emotional manipulation to siphon thousands from her unsuspecting nephew over the course of several months.
Businessman Duped Out of $37K in Bizarre Catfishing Scheme Orchestrated by His Own Aunt
-Hmetro
