MANZINI – A 51 year old man from Mbekelweni reported a case of theft by false pretences to Manzini Police on January 12 2026 after falling victim to a facata scam that cost him E24 500.
According to the Royal Eswatini Police Service the complainant received a phone call from an unknown person who introduced himself as a police officer. The caller claimed to be investigating facata related fraud and told the man that his bank account was at risk and needed to be secured.
Believing the caller the victim was asked to provide his bank account details and follow several instructions over the phone. During the process he was unknowingly guided into taking a loan amounting to E150 000 and was further instructed to increase his credit limit.
The situation raised concern when the victim later received a notification confirming that E24 500 had been withdrawn from his account without his consent. He then realised he had been defrauded and reported the matter to the police.
Police have opened an investigation and are working to trace the suspect who remains at large.
The Royal Eswatini Police Service has cautioned Emaswati that police officers do not call members of the public to request banking details and has urged anyone who receives such calls to end the conversation immediately and avoid sharing personal or financial information.
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