THREE men of Kitwe and Kalulushi who are believed to be behind various fake Facebook accounts advertising fake products and job opportunities have been arrested.
The three who are all aged 22 have been since charged with Personation, Unsolicited electronic messages,Obtaining money by false pretences and Intent to Deceive.
It is alleged throughout their activities, the three young men defrauded unsuspecting people over K400,000.
In a statement, Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said the three are Michael Lupupa of house number 103 Nkana East in Kitwe, Mwansa Mwansa of unknown house number in Kalulushi and Arthur Zulu of house number 3604AA Chiwala Avenue Nkana East in Kitwe
He said trio was apprehended when a team of Officers from Zambia Police and employees from Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) instituted investigations into the allegations and managed to trail the numbers used by the suspects to defraud members of the public.
“The incidents occurred between August and September, 2022 at unknown time in Lusaka.
It is alleged that the suspects were using fake Facebook accounts in the Names of Patricia Kasakula, Christine Katundu and Natasha Mvula to defraud members of the public by advertising assorted cell phones for sale when in fact not and fake Job advert on behalf of Action Aid at a fee,” he said.
He said the trio have defrauded unsuspecting members of the public a total sum of K450,378.
Mr Hamoonga said five cell phones alleged to have been used in the act have since been recovered and seized under the seizure of goods under section 121 of the Criminal Procedure Code Chapter 88 of the Laws of Zambia.
He said the three suspects have been released on Police Bond and will appear in Court soon.
(Mwebantu, Saturday, 19th November, 2022)