Zimbabwe Media Commission warns of accreditation scam

Fake accreditation hustle targeting Zimbabwean journalists in South Africa just got shut down publicly, and the commission wants everyone to be alert.

Scam warning hits South African journalists

• Zimbabwe Media Commission says a fraudster is impersonating its accreditation contact.
• The target pool is Zimbabwean reporters working in South Africa.
• The pitch revolves around access to press credentials.
• The commission flatly denies any agent arrangement.

How the con plays out

• A person requests seventy US dollars.
• Payment is pushed through Mukuru transfers.
• The lure is quick processing for credentials.
• Victims are urged privately, not through official channels.

What the commission actually does

• No third parties collect money for credentials.
• All applications run via official offices or the website.
• Informal payment routes are a hard no.
• Any outside collector is fake by default.

Police involvement and reporting

• Law enforcement has been pulled into the case.
• The goal is tracking and charging the scammers.
• People are asked to flag shady outreach.
• Tips should go straight to the authorities.

Background outreach context

• The commission is extending access beyond Harare.
• Bulawayo is also part of permanent operations.
• Outreach covers practitioners outside the main offices.
• This expansion is unrelated to the scam.