A man from Harare has been tricked by criminals pretending to be well-known businessman Wicknell Chivayo. The scammers took over $1,100 from him in a fake donation scam.
The victim, who asked not to be named, said the scam started after he posted on X (formerly Twitter) asking Chivayo for help with money and a car. Soon after, an account using Chivayo’s name and picture, with the handle @WChivayo, contacted him.
How the Scam Happened
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Fake Promise: The scammer said he was Chivayo and claimed to be in Zambia. He promised the man $150,000 and a luxury car but first asked for a $100 verification fee.
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Fake Platform: The victim was told to open an account on a website called Flashremit, which is not commonly used in Zimbabwe.
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More Demands: After “depositing” fake money into the account, the scammers asked for more payments—$450 for a “transfer code” and another $550 to “release” the money.
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Same Receiver: All the payments were made to a person named Matambudziko Davison Nyaruviro, with ID number 45-156998S45 and mobile number +263778427505.
Victim Now in Debt
The man only realized it was a scam after he had sent all the money and received nothing in return. He reported the matter to the Dema Police Station under case number RRB 6393267.
“I borrowed the money thinking I would get help, but now I’m in debt. These scammers are destroying Chivayo’s name,” he said.
Police and Public Warning
This case is a reminder that fake accounts are being used to steal from people, especially those in desperate situations. Police advise everyone to:
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Check if the account is real before sending money.
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Never pay fees to receive “donations.”
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Report any suspicious messages or accounts to the police.
The real Wicknell Chivayo has not responded to this case.
If you need more details or want to verify the case, the victim can be contacted at +263 772 594 439 or [email protected].
