THE increase in the number of cases where houses are sold fraudulently to unsuspecting home-seekers is worrying Bulawayo residents.
Indications are that the courts are currently handling many such cases.
Bulawayo residents this week expressed concern that fraudsters who have invaded the city are fleecing many residents of their hard-earned money after falling into their traps.
Reports say different home-seekers are shown the same house and pressured to pay since it will be on demand.
The modus operandi of the scammers is that they rent an office for a few hours to hoodwink their victims into believing that they are legitimate.
Bulawayo United Residents Association chairperson Winos Dube said fraud involving houses had become a cause for concern for the residents.
He urged those buying houses to follow procedure to avoid being duped.
“I advise people to follow procedure. Every land belongs to the city council here, hence they should verify with the local authority,” he said, adding that at the end of the day the local authority would be needed for the supervision of the property being bought.
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“Let us understand what we are getting ourselves into, for the avoidance of being duped. Although it’s your private property, make sure you get the full details of the place before buying it.”
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association provincial secretary for administration Thabani Ndlovu urged people to seek help and guidance when buying properties.
“It is nice to ask the council and residents’ associations for information on how to buy a house since there is an upsurge in housing deal scandals,” said Ndlovu.
He said Bulawayo residents should learn to trust their leaders.
“Councillors are always ready to assist individuals and also I call upon Bulawayo people to learn to trust their leaders, especially concerning advice on how a property is bought to avoid being duped,” Ndlovu said.
Last week, a man appeared before magistrate Benhilda Chawundura facing seven counts of fraud.
All the victims had paid large amounts of money to the fraudster, who showed them the same house and other people’s properties.
In another case, Bigboy Ncube appeared before the same magistrate facing a charge of fraud and was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he forged the signature of a house owner and sold the property.
