Residents in Bulawayo have been warned to be vigilant following a surge in online scams offering fake EcoCash benefits, including free data bundles, loans and gift vouchers in exchange for small “registration fees”.
Victims say they are being tricked into paying between US$5 and US$10, after which the websites disappear or become inaccessible, leaving them without the promised services or refunds.
Police say the scams are being run through fake websites and social media adverts designed to resemble official platforms linked to telecoms giant Econet Wireless and its mobile money service EcoCash.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said the fraud cases were increasing and were increasingly targeting people seeking affordable internet access.
“On EcoCash-related fraud cases, we are dealing with criminals who are setting up fake websites that pretend to offer services such as free data bundles, gift vouchers, or even soft loans. These platforms are designed to look genuine, but their aim is to deceive members of the public,” she said.
“They usually demand a so-called registration fee, then proceed to request personal details such as phone numbers, national ID numbers, and EcoCash account information. We want the public to clearly understand that these are not legitimate services.”
She added that the fake sites were often near-perfect copies of official company pages, making them difficult to detect.
“In most cases, these websites are fake copies of real companies like Econet. When you look closely, you will find that Econet itself has nothing to do with these pages,” she said.
“We are urging members of the public to always verify information before they enter any personal details. If unsure, go directly to official Econet offices or verified platforms. Do not trust links sent through unknown messages or social media advertisements.”
Some residents say they have already lost money.
One victim, Tafadzwa Gumbo, said he was drawn in by an advert promising free data after a small payment.
“I saw a post saying I could get 30GB of data if I paid only US$5. It looked real because it had Econet logos and even comments from people saying they had received the data,” he said.
“I followed the instructions, paid the money, and filled in my details. After that, the website stopped opening. I tried to go back, but everything was gone.”
Another resident, Rudo Chikomo, said she was persuaded to pay more after initially falling for the scheme.
“They first told me to pay US$5, and I paid thinking I would get a loan or some benefits,” she said.
“After I had already paid, they said I needed to upgrade to a premium package and pay another US$10 for a bigger loan. The next day the website refused to open. That is when I realised it was a scam.”
Police have urged the public to avoid clicking on unsolicited links and to verify all EcoCash-related promotions through official channels.
Support CITE’s fearless, independent journalism. Your donation helps us amplify community voices, fight misinformation, and hold power to account. Help keep the truth alive. Donate today