HARARE – A Harare man stole Z$3 million after cloning debit cards, a court heard on Monday.
Tinotenda Chinyemba, 29, was charged with unauthorised possession and use of a debit card when he appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.
He was remanded in custody pending bail ruling.
Prosecutors say on May 15 this year, Chinyemba in the company of one Aurther Moyo – who is at large – “cloned” a POSB debit card.
It is alleged that on May 28 between 3PM and 8PM, Chinyemba and Moyo went to Pochiet Complex in Zengeza 2, Chitungwiza, and purchased beer worth Z$160,000 and made 10 transactions of Z$10,000 RTGS.
They spent Z$260,000 in total.
On June 11, police detectives received information that the two men used a cloned card and transacted $30,000 at an Agribank Point of Sale machine registered in the name of Tafara Matupire. Their plan was to get paid in the United States dollar equivalent.
On the same date at around 12PM, detectives intercepted Chinyemba’s vehicle, but Moyo jumped off and outpaced the police officers.
Chinyemba was arrested and taken to Zengeza Police Station where he was interviewed. A search of his vehicle turned up a POSB bank card.
The prosecution alleges that he attempted to break the card during his arrest. He was also found with an ITEL phone which he broke during his arrest.
In all, prosecutors say Chinyemba stole over Z$3 million. Police recovered Z$12,870.
Bank card cloning involves obtaining another person’s debit card information, then creating a fake card that can be used for purchases. Thieves steal your card data including the name, along with the credit card number and expiration date.
Often, thieves use skimming or shimming to obtain this information. Skimming frequently happens at ATMs, but it also can occur when you hand your card over for payment, especially if it leaves your sight. In that brief moment, the cashier skims your card data with a handheld device.
