Three Zimbabweans Arrested for Investment Fraud in India
Three Zimbabweans were arrested in Mohali for allegedly defrauding a Tollygunge resident of over ₹1 crore through an investment scam involving kola nuts. They used fake identities and documents to convince the victim to invest before vanishing after receiving the money. A police investigation led to their arrest and the seizure of incriminating evidence.
In a significant crackdown on investment fraud, Kolkata Police apprehended three Zimbabwean nationals over the weekend. Tinashe Gadzikwa Praise, 22, Malvern Matungamire, 25, and Nyamhunga Lenon Kudakwashe, 23, were arrested from various apartments in Kharar, Mohali, Punjab, where they had been residing for a while. Police say the trio is accused of swindling a local resident out of more than ₹1 crore in a dubious investment scheme.
According to police reports, the three Zimbabweans lured Sandip Guha, a resident of Tollygunge, into investing in the kola nut trading business, promising substantial returns. They reportedly crafted elaborate plans involving fake email accounts, WhatsApp numbers, and even forged letterheads claiming affiliation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and a prominent healthcare pharmaceutical firm from the UK. This deception was intended to persuade Guha to invest in their scam.
Kola nuts, known for their high caffeine content, are harvested from kola trees in rainforests across Africa. During their pitch, the suspects told Guha that there was an increasing global demand for kola nuts, especially within the pharmaceutical sector, making now an ideal time to invest. They continually stressed that larger investments would yield heftier financial returns.
Impersonating officials from the pharma giant and the WHO, the trio allegedly assured the complainant about the health benefits of kola nuts. However, once Guha transferred ₹1 crore into their accounts, the suspects became unreachable. This sparked alarmingly late realizations for Guha, leading him to report the matter to local police on May 20.
This prompted a thorough inquiry at the cyber police station, with a case registered under the Information Technology Act. Following an investigation, a dedicated team scrutinized transaction details and traced the money trail to Punjab, identifying the three suspects’ location. Subsequently, a Kolkata Police team was dispatched to arrange the arrests.
In conjunction with the arrests, authorities confiscated six mobile phones, one laptop, and numerous bank documents that could support the ongoing investigation. The case continues to unfold as police delve deeper into the fraudulent scheme targeting unsuspecting investors.
The arrest of three Zimbabweans in India highlights the rising trends in investment frauds that exploit individuals through deceptive practices. This case serves as a reminder for potential investors to conduct thorough due diligence before parting with their money. Authorities are committed to following the leads uncovered during the investigation, aiming to prevent further incidents like this in the future.
Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com
