5 ways in which people are being conned by thieves in Harare

Harare has been said to be a name derived from the name ‘havarare’ meaning they do not sleep. This is indeed a true testimony of what is happening in the capital city. Thieves have been preying on unsuspecting victims for years. They have even perfected their craft such that their poor victims do not even see it coming. Here are five ways in which people are being conned of their hard earned cash.

A common trend among thieves is that of luring victims by promising them a job. This is done either physically in roads or online. One man narrated his ordeal a few months ago on social media of how he had been approached for a job online. One that suited his qualification. He was asked to pay a certain joining fee. He was never hired and the message later turned out to be from an unverified source.

Some thieves actually approach people physically in town. They will tell you that their company is looking for employees to do some stock taking or basic shelving. They will ask you to surrender your items in an envelope that you can only collect after the job and boom they vanish ivo thin air with your belongings.

Thieves are also working in cahoots with parking officers. As a way of getting quick money, they act as if they are parking officers in civilian clothes. They even have the tools to clamp down cars. Once they do so, they will ask for some money. People have been lamenting this crew that has been making life unbearable.

Trust no one. This phrase ought to be employed in daily life when one is in Harare. There are those that simply pretend to be selling something at a ridiculously low price. So low that they get your attention. The moment you stop to listen, the thieves will strip you of your belongings without you even noticing it. One poor victim claimed it was only after someone shouted that she was being robbed that she woke up to a realisation that her purse was gone. And during that time she was eagerly listening to the thieves selling some non existent product.

Another common way in which people are being conned is that of thieves who pose as police officers. They actually put up a fake road block, wear some police uniform or and have walkie talkies. When they stop you, they do not want to take you to the station but rather ask for some money. Then you know you have been conned.