Esther Mwaata Katongo
The Zambia Police has warned members of the public against unscrupulous people who are impersonating senior Government officials and other prominent personalities on social media and thereafter ask for money.
This is according to a press statement issued by Police deputy spokerson Esther Mwaata Katongo.
“We would like to inform members of the public that there is a new crime wave which has emerged where fraudsters are using face book to lure unsuspecting people to make cash deposits in Bank accounts on pretext that they would secure for them employment,” Katongo said.
Katongo also named some of the personalities impersonated on Facebook who includes First Lady Esther Lungu and Police Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja.
“In this type of cybercrime, Fraudsters are creating fake face book accounts using information and profile pictures of prominent people in society, among them First Lady, Mrs Esther Lungu, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kakoma Kanganja, former Finance Minister, Mr. Alexander Chikwanda, Former Minister of Works and Supply, Mr. Yamfwa Mukanga and Former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Mukondo Lungu,” she said.
“Our investigations have also revealed that these fraudsters are using false information to open Bank accounts to avoid easy detection and are working in collaboration with foreigners, to which some members of the public have fallen victim and have made cash deposits.
“One person identified as Gideon Chibwe has since been apprehended and charged with three counts of impersonation where he impersonated the First Lady, Mrs Esther Lungu, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kakoma Kanganja and Former Minister of Finance, Mr Alexander Chikwanda,” Katongo explained.
Katongo said the suspect is facing two counts of obtaining money by false pretences and one count of attempting to obtain money by false pretences.
“Gideon Chibwe who works for Roma Security Company was purporting to be an employee of Mazabuka Municipal Council.
We are therefore advising members of the public to be wary of such criminal activities and avoid falling prey,” she explained.
Katongo also warned that those involved in such scams both locals and foreigners must desist from the act as the Zambia Police Service is on high alert to ensure that all those involved are brought to book.