Harare Man Duped of US$3.5K in Fake Eastview Stand Deal
A Harare man’s plans to secure a residential stand have collapsed after he was allegedly duped of more than US$3,500 in a fraudulent land deal.
The victim, Douglas Gwishiri, is said to have fallen prey to a scheme that began with a seemingly legitimate online property advertisement.
Also Read: Freelance Estate Agent in Court Over US$75,000 Residential Stand Scam
WhatsApp Advertisement Sparks Interest
According to H-Metro, the incident dates back to December last year when Gwishiri came across a WhatsApp listing for a 1,000 square metre stand in Eastview. The advertisement was allegedly posted by Misheck Chimutandaro (44), who presented himself as the owner of the property.
After making contact, Gwishiri reportedly arranged to view the stand, raising hopes of finally securing land for his home.
Payments Made After “Proof” of Ownership
The court heard that the two met on December 13 at the Eastview property, where they agreed on a purchase price of US$6,000. Chimutandaro allegedly produced a UDcorp card as proof of ownership, convincing Gwishiri that the transaction was legitimate.
Trusting the documents presented, Gwishiri allegedly paid US$3,000 in cash and agreed to pay the remaining balance through monthly instalments.
Additional Payments Raise Suspicion
In February this year, Gwishiri is said to have made an additional US$500 payment after being told the funds were needed for development purposes. The accused allegedly went on to request a further US$50, claiming he needed to pass it on to Tongogara Housing Cooperative.
Real Owner Emerges
The alleged scam was uncovered when Gwishiri later visited the stand intending to begin clearing the land. He was reportedly confronted by another individual who claimed to be the rightful owner of the property.
Further checks with the Ministry of Local Government allegedly confirmed that the stand did not belong to Chimutandaro.
Case Before the Courts
The matter has since been taken up by the courts, with Chimutandaro facing fraud charges. He was granted bail and is expected to return to court at a later date.
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