A shocking tale of deception has unfolded in Zambia, where 28-year-old electrician Simon Mwalubulo was arrested for impersonating ministers on Facebook to extort money from unsuspecting individuals.
Mwalubulo, from Bauleni in Lusaka, confessed to creating fake pages of prominent figures, including Minister of Local Government and Urban Development Garry Nkombo. Mwalubulo’s scam promised victims jobs and access to Constituency Development Funds (CDF) in exchange for money.
He managed to build a two-bedroom house in Monze with the ill-gotten gains, which he claimed was a result of being unemployed at the time.
However, his luck ran out when Minister Nkombo reported the incident to the police on October 28. A joint investigation by Zambia Police and the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) tracked Mwalubulo down to his second wife’s residence in Manunga Compound, Monze.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga warned the public to verify job offers and financial solicitations before making commitments. Mwalubulo’s case is a stark reminder of the dangers of online impersonation.
Similar incidents have been reported globally, including 143 deep-faked ads impersonating UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Meta’s platform, potentially reaching over 400,000 people ²[5)
