Over 300 people have reportedly been duped by a suspected bogus firm Blue Degree Minerals, also trading as F3 Power Company, which claimed to install solar facilities, but after receiving payments, never provided the service.
CID spokesperson Inspector Augustine Zimbili said the firm had swindled its clients of more than $33 000.
F3 Power Company is alleged to have flighted adverts in the media sometime in December saying it was offering installation of solar systems. People responded to the advert and went to where these people were working from, Runhare House fourth floor, seeking their services.
The company is said to have been offering two services, a home basic solar system costing $335 and home plus solar system priced at $510.
One of the complainants who wanted the home plus service paid the $510, but never received any service since December. The complainant said the owners of the company said they would refund him, but up to this date they still have not refunded, Zimbili said.
The complainant reported the case and detectives from the CID fraud section picked up two directors Tinashe Shangwa (28) and Steven Chiedza Kufakunesu Gonah (29) and through investigations it was found out that over 300 people paid for the solar systems and had not been offered the services.
Zimbili said the police serious fraud section was appealing to people who were defrauded by the company to come forward and assist police with investigations.
We urge people to verify the authenticity of some companies. They should ask to see what they have done before so that they are not duped. Verification is important as there are too many of these people working in syndicates defrauding many Zimbabweans, he said.
