In Zimbabwe, hundreds of citizens have fallen victim to a large-scale fraud scheme operating under the guise of the well-known company InnBucks Investment on the social network Facebook. The scammers posed as employees of this company and convinced people to invest money in a fake Bitcoin trading platform, promising guaranteed profits.
This is reported by Finway
How the Scammers Operated and What Methods They Used
Disguised as official representatives of InnBucks Investment, the fraudsters posted advertisements on Facebook with attractive promises of high returns. They suggested using the popular payment system Ecocash for transferring funds, while the money was sent to unknown accounts controlled by the scammers. Additionally, victims were sent links to a phishing website, where users were assured of the complete safety of their investments and the absence of hidden fees. To start “investing,” it was required to register and provide personal information via WhatsApp.
“Here’s an opportunity to make x3 on your investments with no hidden fees or withdrawal charges, 100% safe and secure. You can also access your trading account. Message us right now to get started,” read the scammers’ message.
The scammers used the name Michelle Chiunda and a WhatsApp number that, according to the owner, was registered without her knowledge. The woman stated that she suspected her personal data was being used by third parties and noted the coincidence of the surname with her own.
InnBucks’ Response and Investigation
The real company InnBucks issued an official warning, emphasizing its non-involvement in any investment schemes. Representatives of InnBucks urged citizens not to share personal information with strangers and to verify the authenticity of pages and offers only through the company’s official communication channels.
The investigation revealed that the so-called “employees” of the fraudulent platform promised investors exorbitant profits – up to 10 times the invested amount. Channels for payouts mentioned included Ecocash, Innbucks, and Mukuru, but none of these services confirmed any collaboration with the fake platform.
Local law enforcement and the company InnBucks have already been informed of the fraudulent activities. The investigation is ongoing, and citizens are advised to exercise maximum caution when making online investments. The total amount of losses from the scammers’ activities remains unknown at this time.
Earlier, it was reported that the Czech Minister of Justice resigned due to a gift of Bitcoin worth $45 million.