Mbabane – Police have arrested 89 people in connection with facata related scams, with concern growing that some suspects are returning to the same crimes after being released on bail.
The arrests were confirmed by Royal Eswatini Police Service Assistant Commissioner and Director of the Fraud Unit Nicholas Jele during an interview on the Kusile Breakfast Show hosted by Lungelele Magagula this week. Jele said the figures point to sustained police operations against financial crime, but warned that repeat offending remains a challenge.
He said several suspects arrested for facata scams were later released on bail and subsequently re arrested for committing the same offences, a trend he described as troubling for law enforcement.
Jele disclosed that during the recent festive season alone, 11 people reported being defrauded through facata scams within one month. He said the number was worrying given the short time frame in which the cases were reported.
He also cautioned the public about fraudsters who pose as police officers, adding that some scammers now appear on caller identification applications such as Truecaller as law enforcement officials in order to gain trust.
Jele said emaSwati should exercise extreme caution as criminals continue to adopt more sophisticated tactics, including impersonating police officers.
On stokvel related scams, Jele said reports have declined, with two cases recorded in December and one in January. Despite the drop, he warned against complacency and advised the public not to keep large amounts of cash outside the banking system.
He said money attracts everyone and urged people to avoid exposing themselves by storing cash at home, adding that banks remain the safest option for keeping money secure.
Jele further warned of a growing phishing scam in which fraudsters circulate links promising large prizes. He cited a recent case falsely associated with Eswatini Mobile and urged the public to verify promotions directly with companies before clicking on any links.
With the back to school period underway, Jele warned about scammers commonly known as Bo Landela who target people standing in bank queues and offer quicker services outside banking halls.
He advised members of the public to reject shortcuts, avoid carrying large sums of cash and ignore promises of faster services offered outside banks.
Jele also said pensioners continue to be targeted through fake investment schemes, urging them to conduct proper research before committing their money and to be wary of offers that appear too good to be true.
Police have called on the public to remain alert, report suspicious activities and use secure banking channels as efforts continue to curb fraud related crimes across the Kingdom.
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