Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) allegedly lost millions of dollars in a well-orchestrated hacking scheme in which “miracle” money was credited to shipping companies’ accounts for duty purposes.
The scam, allegedly a project of former Zimra information technology workers based in Beitbridge, is believed to have spread like a veld fire resulting in the tax collector closing several bonds of clearing companies.
The hackers credited the prepaid accounts of clearing companies with “fictitious” money used for clearing millions of dollars’ worth of cars and goods.
They would, through their runners, follow the agents to collect cash giving 20% commissions to agents running their deal, source said.
In Beitbridge, the brains behind the scam ran their project over many months, and were operating from a popular building, before the exposure.
Some well to do shipping companies are said to be falling over each other to get reprieve from Zimra after the tax authority shut bonds of several companies in reaction.
“They closed the bonds of more than 120 companies. All these are expected to explain their accounts and funds therein,” a senior Zimra officer said.
He did not dismiss the possibility of “an inside job, apart from former employees.”
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The hackers hit the ZiG account, but it would reflect as United States dollars in credited accounts.
Although, initially the hackers were believed to be foreign, latest information pointed at former employees exploiting a porous system.
Shipping agents would first deposit money into the Zimra account from which individual companies withdraw for goods cleared as part of the elaborate scheme.
Millions of dollars of the “miracle money” was used to clear vehicles, groceries and other goods with the fictitious deposits.
Zimra, however, played down the hacking saying it had sorted the mess and that it was partially affected.
“The Zimra informs the public and stakeholders that a breach within its customs systems was swiftly detected and successfully contained through continuous monitoring and proactive security protocols.
“Investigations confirmed that the incident was limited to a small number of user accounts linked to fraudulent activity,” Zimra said in a statement.
Immediate corrective measures were taken, the tax authority said, including deactivation of the affected accounts and the launch of criminal proceedings against the individuals involved.
“Importantly, all taxpayer and customs data remain secure and all customs and revenue services continue without interruption,” Zimra said.
“Zimra is working closely with stakeholders to strengthen system integrity, reinforce safeguards and prevent recurrence.”
Sources at the border town said Zimra may have lost several millions of dollars to the scammers.
“By simply looking at the number of companies that were closed one has an idea the effect is massive,” said one company director.
“Some of the companies involved are big and handle millions of dollars’ worth of business.
“Big companies were affected and if you go to BAK Storage, the cars that are being held will tell you the story.
“Depending on various scenarios, I see some companies having their licences and bonds cancelled permanently, some being asked to reimburse the funds plus heavy fines, some directors and employees being charged with fraud, theft, etc.”
Zimra launched a clampdown on vehicles that may have been cleared with the miracle money.
Hundreds of cars were caught up in nationwide clampdowns.
In Harare they were held at several places, including at BAK Storage.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is also reported to have arrived in Beitbridge to probe the scam likely to influence several developments in the security systems of Zimra.
“We are likely to see more clampdowns because the fraud was huge and may have involved many people. Arrests are possible,” the source said.
Zimbabwe uses the Asycuda (Automated System for Customs Data), a computerised customs management system developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to help countries automate and control their customs processes.
It handles trade procedures, facilitates the electronic submission of documents, and supports the payment of duties and taxes online.
The system aims to reduce clearance times, lower costs for businesses, increase government revenue, and improve trade statistics for economic planning and development.
