Michael Mashiri
Two men who were instructing people to pay deposits of rents for houses that do not exist and created several false Facebook pages claiming to real estate agents have been arrested.
Mudakureva Matutu, 30, Tinevimbo Sedrick Mtoko, 22, of Kuwadzana, were before magistrate Dennis Mangosi at the Harare Magistrates' Court accused of six counts of fraud.
The State, through prosecutor Zororai Nkomo, alleges that, on December 16, 2022, Matutu and Mtoko lied to the complainant that they had a house to let in Avondale.
Matutu put an advertisement on Facebook page written, "Great Homes."
The complainant responded to the advert, met up with Mtoko at Kuwadzana and paid US$1 000 as deposit and rentals for the house in Avondale.
The complainant went to the residence, found it occupied and realised they had been duped.
Upon trying to contact the two, the numbers were not available prompting the complainant to make a police report.
On another count, the court was informed that, on December, 11, 2023, Matutu and Mtoko told another complainant that there was a four roomed house to let at number 18 Beverly Road, Braeside.
The complainant paid US$270 but on going to the given location discovered that the address was none existent.
On the third count, the two after putting an advert on the Facebook platform, lied to a complainant that they had a cottage at number 46 Cork Road, Avondale.
The complainant deposited US$50 through Innbucks.
The complainant later met them along Bulawayo Road and paid US$600 and was given keys and directions to the house.
Again there was no such house.
Efforts to contact the two were futile as their phones were turned off.
On another count, on December, 2022, another complainant met with Mtoko who introduced himself as Richard and the complainant paid US$300
The complainant was given instructions by Matutu who pretended to be one Reverend Chamaida who pretended to be the owner of the house.
On December 31, 2023, the complainant tried to call but the number was not available.
On the fifth count, on May 9, 2023 another complainant responded to an advertisement on Facebook written, "Mtika home and properties,"
He contacted one of the two accused and was instructed to pay US$20 through Innbucks.
She was instructed to meet Fortune in Kuwadzana and she paid US$520 and was issued with the house keys and address, 7 Churchill Road, Marlborough, another imaginary residence.
She realised that she had been swindled and reported the matter to the police.
On another count, on April 27, 2023, another complainant was duped of US$440 in the same manner.
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