Fraud Syndicates Tighten Grip on Eswatini’s Elderly

By Thokozani Mazibuko

The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is warning that pensioners are fast becoming prime targets for fraudsters, following the arrest of four men linked to a brazen scam that robbed a 62-year-old woman of her life savings.

The case, investigators say, is not an isolated incident. It forms part of a disturbing regional trend in which the elderly and financially vulnerable are emerging as soft targets for increasingly sophisticated criminal syndicates.

The arrested suspects, aged between 40 and 53, were intercepted during a routine roadblock in Nkwene on Friday. Hailing from Ticantfwini, Sihlutse, Thunzini, and Mangcongco, the men are accused of conning a pensioner from Dlovunga into parting with E260,000 in 2022.

The victim was allegedly persuaded that her money could be “washed” and multiplied into E3 million using special chemicals. As part of the con, the suspects reportedly presented stacks of blank paper sandwiched between a few real banknotes to simulate vast piles of cash.

“This was a classic theft by false pretence,” a senior police officer told Eswatini Sunday. “They preyed on her vulnerability and trust. She had worked hard all her life to save, only for criminals to strip her of everything.”

When arrested, police recovered the suspects’ so-called “working tools,” including counterfeit paper stacks and chemical substances used in the ruse.

The four men have since been charged with Theft by False Pretence and are expected to appear in court. Police have appealed for other victims to come forward, saying the suspects may be linked to multiple scams across the country.

While shocking, the Dlovunga case mirrors a wider African reality. According to the 2025 African Cybercrime and Fraud Report by the African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), Africans lost an estimated US$4.2 billion (E80 billion) to scams and fraud between January and August this year alone, a 17% jump from 2024.

Southern Africa accounted for nearly 40% of these losses, with South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya topping the charts. Eswatini, though smaller in scale, has seen dozens of pensioners and low-income workers targeted by syndicates promising “fast riches” through fake investments or money-multiplication schemes.

“These criminals use highly convincing stories and pressure tactics. The elderly are particularly at risk because they may be unfamiliar with the tricks of modern fraud and often hold retirement lump sums,” the ECOSOCC report noted.

The scope elsewhere underscores the danger. In Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said more than 15,000 people had reported losing money to Ponzi-style scams by July, with losses topping US$1 billion.

In Kenya, the Central Bank issued a consumer alert in June after thousands were defrauded through fake mobile money investment platforms, losing an estimated KES 18 billion (US$140 million).

The parallels are stark: whether through WhatsApp groups, fraudulent “cooperatives,” or old-fashioned face-to-face swindles, fraudsters are exploiting desperation and eroding trust in financial systems.

The numbers only tell part of the story. Victims often suffer profound psychological trauma. In Southern Africa, financial losses have been linked to stress-related illnesses and even suicides.

“Financial scams are no longer just an economic problem; they are a public health issue,” warned a recent United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) brief.

“The shame and despair of being defrauded often silences victims, leaving them to suffer in isolation.”

In Eswatini, community leaders say cases like the Dlovunga pensioner underscore the need for open family discussions around money.

“Scammers know our elders are trusting. Families must talk openly with their parents and grandparents about financial risks. Silence is dangerous,” said one Mbabane-based financial consultant.

The REPS Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, has repeated warnings urging vigilance. “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. We appeal to the public, and especially pensioners, to report suspicious activity immediately.”

Law enforcement, however, is playing catch-up. Syndicates often operate across borders, moving swiftly from one jurisdiction to another. Experts argue that without stronger protections and coordinated enforcement, countries like Eswatini will remain soft targets.

The African Union has urged member states to fast-track ratification of the Malabo Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, which would harmonize anti-fraud laws across the continent.

What Citizens Can Do

Financial advisors stress that vigilance is the first line of defence:
Be skeptical of offers that promise unrealistic returns.
Verify any investment with regulators or banks before parting with money.
Pensioners should involve trusted family members before making major financial decisions.
Communities should host awareness campaigns at local chiefdoms, churches, and pension payout points.