A Bulawayo resident has received a five-month prison sentence after exploiting a family searching for their missing 11-year-old relative. Chrispen Nyoni, 32, admitted to fraud charges in Harare and was ordered to pay restitution to the victim's aunt, which reduced his original six-month term by one month.
The scheme began when the boy vanished after being sent to purchase milk and eggs in Dzivarasekwa. His aunt reported the disappearance to the police and circulated a social media flyer seeking information. Nyoni contacted the woman through a callback request, falsely claiming he knew the child's whereabouts. He convinced her to send progressively larger sums totaling over $24 through his girlfriend's mobile money account, promising first to provide location details and later to cover transportation costs for the boy's return.
Authorities apprehended Nyoni in Nkulumane after the complainant realized she had been deceived. Police seized phones belonging to both Nyoni and his girlfriend during the arrest.
The scheme began when the boy vanished after being sent to purchase milk and eggs in Dzivarasekwa. His aunt reported the disappearance to the police and circulated a social media flyer seeking information. Nyoni contacted the woman through a callback request, falsely claiming he knew the child's whereabouts. He convinced her to send progressively larger sums totaling over $24 through his girlfriend's mobile money account, promising first to provide location details and later to cover transportation costs for the boy's return.
Authorities apprehended Nyoni in Nkulumane after the complainant realized she had been deceived. Police seized phones belonging to both Nyoni and his girlfriend during the arrest.
