‘CONMAN ON PROWL’ . . .Norton residents warned

A NORTON resident has warned fellow residents against a conman who has reportedly duped at least two people through an elaborate modus operandi.

Wellington Mashoko, who is involved in a transport venture, shared his ordeal in Norton social media groups.

H-Metro tracked him down and he confirmed the story. Mashoko has since reported the case at Norton ZRP, where it was referenced RRB 4851475.

According to Mashoko, the well-dressed gentleman approached him at his business premises, 611 Fletcher Road sometime last week, asking to hire a truck.

The con artist said he intended to ferry fertiliser from Harare and was quoted US$130.

“We told him we needed money for diesel and he said he would give us coupons for that at his workplace. He said he worked at the PPU at Morris Depot,” he said.

When they got to Morris Depot, the con artist convinced Mashoko to hand over $200 cash in return for extra fuel coupons which the conman claimed to have in abundance in his office.

He disappeared into one of the buildings, only for Mashoko to discover that there was another entrance which the conman probably used to make good his escape.

Mashoko added that when he handed over the money, they were at a place teeming with decorated police officers. That is how cunning the conman is!

On the following day, another transporter only identified as Lameck was lured from a trucks-for-hire parking lot in Katanga, Norton.

Lameck was lured all the way to Josiah Tongogara Barracks in Harare, where he lost US$250 in similar fashion.