By Ray Bande
A shrewd con artist identifying herself as Yolanda Mujuru on several social media platforms is pouncing on businessmen of questionable morals as she lures them with raunchy pictures, sweet-talks and endears them until they start sending her various amounts of cash.
Targeting mainly those with a shut mind and open zip approach to matters of the heart, Yolanda can be contacted on Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter and other social media platforms. Apparently, there is also a money transfer Ecocash account registered in the name Yolanda Mujuru on 07726 62 356.
When this reporter pretended to have been sent by one of her recent victims, phoned the number 0772 662 356 asking to speak to Yolanda Mujuru, a soft voice responded positively saying: “I don’t remember the guy you are talking about, but anyway do me a favour, just send me his number.”
After sending a Telecel phone number to her, she instantly phoned back, but could not be drawn into a lengthy conversation before hanging, ostensibly having sensed the trap.
However, a reliable source confided in The Weekender that a number of Mutare businessmen are falling prey to the seducer with one of them (name withheld) having lost US$600 with the ill-fated hope of one day meeting the lady.
The other well known businessman, who operates in the Nyakamete industrial area is said to have been duped of US$150, while another one was seduced to pay US$200 with the hope that he would meet Yolanda in Mutare over the weekend.
“It is sad that quite a good number of businessmen are being duped by the con-artist. She posts some erotic pictures on Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp.
“She even has the guts of starting a conversation with an unsuspecting male person whom she knows to be well-heeled. After successfully seducing them by sweet talking them and posting some pictures she normally arranges for a date between the two.
“She says she is based in Borrowdale, Harare. She makes her intended victim believe that she is living large before trying to arrange a date with them. That is when she asks for money to get her hair done, money for fuel to come down to Mutare and so on.
“As we speak, a well known businessman (name withheld), who operates in the Nyakamete industrial area and is into transport business, is said to have been duped off US$150, while another one (name withheld) was seduced to pay US$200 with the hope that he would meet her in Mutare over the weekend,” said the source.
Of late, the social media platforms have been abused for several reasons that include prostitution and conning unsuspecting users in botched deals. Manica Post
