April 16, 2025-The Zambia Police Service wishes to alert members of the public to the growing number of fraud cases involving impersonation through social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook.
We have recently recorded a concerning number of reports where unsuspecting individuals are defrauded of their money after receiving financial requests from what appear to be the accounts of friends, family members, or acquaintances. In many of these instances, the accounts used are either hacked or cloned by criminals who take advantage of the trust between the victim and the actual account holder.
We strongly urge members of the public to exercise caution and due diligence by verifying the authenticity of any financial request received through social media or messaging platforms. This can be done by directly contacting the supposed sender using alternative communication channels such as a phone call or face-to-face interaction before making any transaction.
These fraudulent schemes can easily be avoided if proper verification is made prior to sending money. We appeal to the public not to rush into responding to emotional or urgent-sounding messages, even if they appear to come from someone they know.
The Zambia Police Service remains committed to safeguarding members of the public from cyber-related crimes and we continue to investigate and track down perpetrators of such fraudulent activities.
We further encourage victims of such scams to report the incidents to the nearest police station and provide any evidence that may aid investigations.
Let us work together to prevent crime by staying alert and taking a few extra moments to verify before sending money.
Rae Hamoonga
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER.