Police in Bulawayo have warned residents to be on high alert following a rise in two street scams known locally as Chadonha, the dropped money trick, and Ukuqhatshwa, a ruse involving fake job offers.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Thandekile Ndlovu, said criminals are preying on unsuspecting members of the public with promises of quick money or short-term employment, only for victims to lose valuables.
“In the Chadonha scam, criminals deliberately drop a bundle of what appears to be cash or a wallet in front of a potential victim in a public place,” Ndlovu explained. “Upon noticing it, the unsuspecting individual is lured into a conversation by accomplices pretending to also have seen or claim they dropped the cash.
“In the process, the victim is manipulated into entering a secluded space under the pretext of sharing the found money. Once isolated, the victim is robbed of their possessions including cash, bank cards, mobile phones, or important personal documents and left stranded after being given a bundle of counterfeit notes or worthless paper.”
The Ukuqhatshwa scam, Ndlovu said, involves fraudsters posing as employers offering temporary work, often offloading goods at nearby warehouses.
“Victims are approached at busy areas such as bus ranks, growth points, and city centres, and are told they will be paid good money after completion of the task,” she said.
“Before reaching the supposed work site, victims are told their bags, cell phones, or wallets are not allowed at the worksites hence they will be asked to surrender them for safekeeping. The scammers then disappear with the stolen items, leaving the victim stranded.”
Police have urged members of the public not to engage in money-sharing schemes or surrender personal belongings to strangers.
“Refuse to surrender personal belongings to strangers under any circumstances and avoid following unknown individuals to secluded locations. There is no such a thing as job offering on the streets,” Ndlovu warned.
She added: “Report any suspicious individuals or incidents to the nearest police station immediately. We urge all members of the public, especially job-seekers and travellers, to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to these deceptive tactics.”
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