Own Correspondent
A troubling incident has surfaced from Lobengula West suburb of Bulawayo, where a teenager reportedly fell victim to a scam involving a fake money ritual.
The Form Four student is alleged to have stolen a substantial amount of money, SAR1,000 and US$230 from his parents, which he then sent to a self-proclaimed “godfather” in Ghana in hopes of receiving supernatural assistance to become wealthy.
The boy’s mother recounted the alarming events, stating,
“It all began when my son, who is part of a school WhatsApp group, came across a link that promised quick wealth and fame.”
Intrigued by the offer, the teenager reached out to the group’s administrator, who connected him with a supposed ritualist in Ghana. The boy was presented with options to gain wealth, win a lottery, or achieve fame, ultimately choosing the path to wealth.
The so-called “godfather” informed the teenager that he would need to pay a fee to receive special “umuthi” (a type of traditional medicine) that would supposedly enable him to accumulate wealth rapidly. Desperate to follow through with the ritual, the teen stole SAR1,000 and US$230 from his parents and transferred the money to the individual in Ghana.
After the payment, the “godfather” made a chilling request: the boy was instructed to send a photo of his best friend to complete the ritual.
“He told my son to buy candles and light them on a specific date,” the mother explained.
“The ‘godfather’ assured him that once the candles completely burnt out, his best friend—whose image had been sent—would collapse and die.”
Believing in the success of this grim procedure, the boy agreed to the terms, convinced that the sacrifice would secure his financial prosperity.
The situation began to unravel when the boy’s mother noticed the missing money and confronted her son. Under pressure, the teenager confessed to the theft and revealed the entire scheme.
“I was shocked and horrified by what my son had done,” she said.
Following this revelation, she reported the incident to Magwegwe Police Station, prompting a deeper investigation into the matter.
In a disturbing turn of events, the Ghanaian “godfather” later sent a video to the teenager, further unsettling the family. The footage displayed the photo of the boy’s best friend alongside large stacks of US$100 bills, claiming it represented the wealth he was destined to receive.
The parents of the intended victim, whose image was shared without consent, are understandably terrified.
“We never imagined something like this could happen. It’s frightening to think that someone would go to such lengths,” they expressed.
The community remains on high alert as authorities work to address the implications of this alarming incident.
It is not the first time that this publication has encountered such stories. As an online publication, Zim GBC News usually encounters these scammers as they join our WhatsApp groups to scam readers.
Periodically, readers are made aware and warned against following such messages.
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