BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
MBABANE – A 65-year-old woman from the Ka-Shali area allegedly lost E360 000 after being duped by a man who claimed he was in line to become the area’s next chief and promised to share his future wealth with her.
The alleged scam, which took place between 2024 and 2025, is now under investigation by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) following a report made on July 9.
According to police, the suspect allegedly approached the elderly woman and convinced her that once he was officially installed as chief, he would receive a substantial amount of money. He allegedly promised to reward the complainant with a share of the expected windfall, persuading her to provide him with money on numerous occasions while he awaited his installation.
Police said the suspect repeatedly requested money, claiming it was needed to purchase traditional attire, cattle and other materials required for his installation as chief. Believing his promises, the woman allegedly continued handing over money over an extended period.
The complainant is said to have lost a total of E360 000 before eventually realising that she may have been the victim of a crime. Almost two years after the alleged deception began, she reported the matter to the Manzini Police, prompting the launch of an investigation into a case of theft by false pretences.
Police have not disclosed whether any arrests have been made, saying investigations are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, Manzini Police are also investigating a separate case of theft by false pretences involving a 74-year-old man from Fairview who allegedly lost E45 000.
According to police, the incident occurred on July 7, 2026, when the complainant received a phone call from an unknown person claiming that his bank account had been compromised and was under investigation. The caller allegedly succeeded in defrauding the elderly man of E45 000 from his account.
The Royal Eswatini Police Service has urged members of the public to remain vigilant when dealing with financial matters and to exercise caution before sending money or disclosing banking information.
Police further appealed to Emaswati to be alert to scams involving promises of financial rewards or urgent requests for money, warning that fraudsters often exploit trust and false promises to deceive unsuspecting victims. Investigations into both cases are continuing.
(Courtesy Pic)
#CrimeNews #FraudAlert #ScamWarning #ElderlyProtection #Manzini #RoyalEswatiniPoliceService #Eswatini #TheftByFalsePretences #PublicAwareness #StayAlert #FightFraud #BreakingNews
