The convenience of mobile money, a service that once revolutionised financial transactions in Zimbabwe, has been overshadowed by a relentless wave of sophisticated scams that are emptying the wallets of unsuspecting citizens. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has been forced to issue a red alert over the surge in mobile money fraud, with users of the country’s largest platform, EcoCash, bearing the brunt of the criminal onslaught.
The criminals are not relying on brute force or hacking, but on the oldest trick in the book: deception. Online scammers are luring mobile money transactors with promises of easy money or cheap deals, tricking them into revealing their confidential security details, such as their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and One-Time Passwords (OTPs). Once these details are obtained, the criminals gain full, unfettered access to the victim’s mobile wallet, cleaning out their funds in a matter of minutes.
Police Sound the Alarm on Deceptive Lures
In a statement issued on 20 January 2026, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi detailed the common tactics used by these fraudsters. He warned that criminals are using fake online promotions, offers for cheap data bundles, and quick loan traps with attractive repayment terms to draw in their victims.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police alerts the public regarding fraudulent activities targeting mobile money users, particularly EcoCash customers,” said Comm Nyathi. He explained the core of the problem: “The criminals lure their victims using fake online promotions purporting to offer very cheap products, such as cheap data packages or quick loans on easy and attractive repayment terms, to be paid using mobile money.”
The commissioner stressed that the moment a victim discloses their secret information, the damage is done. “Once the unsuspecting victim discloses their confidential personal security information (PIN and OTP), the online criminals then gain access to the victim’s mobile money wallet, without the customer’s knowledge and start abusing their funds,” he stated.
EcoCash Responds with Security Upgrade
In a direct response to the escalating crisis, Econet, the parent company of EcoCash, has moved to upgrade its mobile application with what it calls “security enhancements”. This action follows numerous complaints that suggested scammers were exploiting certain features of the app to swindle Zimbabweans.
The company sent out SMS messages to its vast customer base, urging them to update their application immediately:
Upgrade your EcoCash App to enhance security & transact hassle free
The upgrade appears to target a specific vulnerability where criminals could log into a customer’s account on a device even if the Econet SIM card was not physically present in that device. While Econet has not officially detailed the exact changes, the update is understood to make this particular method of attack significantly harder to execute.
Despite the company’s efforts, the perception among some victims is that the platform itself has been compromised. EcoCash, however, has strongly denied any hacking of its system, maintaining that the losses are a result of customers falling for the scammers’ “too-good-to-be-true” offers and willingly sharing their confidential details.
Disillusionment and the Diaspora Link
The crisis has led to a growing sense of disillusionment, even among prominent figures who once championed the mobile money platform. Social media personality, King Jay, voiced his concerns, particularly regarding transactions involving funds sent from outside the country.
“EcoCash was undoubtedly a game changer for money transactions in Zimbabwe. For years, it made sending and receiving money quick and convenient,” King Jay observed. “However, lately I’ve become disillusioned with the platform’s integrity, checks and balances. Audios circulating on WhatsApp confirm that I’m not the only one concerned, especially when it comes to diaspora remittances and how transactions are being handled”.
The scale of the problem is believed to be massive. Some victims have claimed that police officers informed them that thousands of people have already fallen prey to the scam.
The Importance of Vigilance and Old-School Security
The police commissioner’s warning is clear: the public must exercise extreme caution. Comm Nyathi urged the public to be vigilant and to stop clicking on suspicious links circulating on social media.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges the public to be vigilant and exercise caution when opening links from online sources offering deceptively cheap and attractive deals and bargains,” he said.
He also warned against the use of fake websites and bogus pages that steal the logos of mobile money companies like EcoCash and OneMoney to appear legitimate. The core message remains a simple but vital security principle:
“NEVER share your secret PIN or OTP with anyone. The mobile money service providers, such as EcoCash or OneMoney, will NEVER ask their customers for this information,”
Furthermore, the police reminded users that genuine mobile money platforms will never ask customers to move their money for so-called safe keeping. “Genuine mobile money platforms will never ask their customers to transfer money to another person’s wallet or bank account for safe keeping,” Comm Nyathi added.
For those who prefer the platform’s original, non-internet-dependent method, the USSD codes (such as *151#) remain a popular and arguably safer alternative, as they work anywhere there is network coverage and do not rely on the mobile application. Even for app users, the system employs a security feature known as 3DS authentication, which sends an OTP to the user’s phone for transactions like virtual Visa card payments, ensuring that only the person with the physical SIM card can authorise the payment. It is this very security layer that the online criminals are now exploiting.
The ZRP confirmed that they are working closely with mobile money companies and other law enforcement agencies to track down the fraudsters. Victims of mobile money fraud are encouraged to report their cases immediately to the Police National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703 631 or WhatsApp 0712 800 197, or to visit their nearest police station.
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