TM Supermarkets lost $22 million to e-mail hacking fraudsters suspected to be targeting huge businesses in the country, police have said.
The retail group was deceived through a contrived e-mail in
the name of TM financial manager Mr Raymond Matsetsa instructing accounts staff
to send money from a bank account held at Steward Bank, Avondale branch, to
four company accounts which were systematically emptied.
TM employees and Steward Bank insiders are suspected of
being involved in the scam.
The case also exposes systemic flaws in the banking system
that make it easy for fraudsters to operate unchecked and banks’
unresponsiveness to clients who have lost large sums of money.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commission Paul
Nyathi last night confirmed the arrest of one suspect, Tonderai Chagweda, who
is assisting police with investigations.
He said the offence was allegedly committed on January 28
when the fabricated e-mail instructed Steward Bank to process and transfer the
money into four companies.
Steward Bank, said Asst Comm Nyathi, then acted on the
instructions and transferred $10 million into a company called Simrac
Investments, Leechiz ($3 million), Madzara Investment ($7 million), and
Maalocka Pvt Ltd($2 million).
He said TM discovered the transaction, which they disputed
on March 3, with the manager in question saying the e-mail was doctored.
However, investigations led to the arrest of Chagweda.
Asst Comm Nyathi said police suspect that it could be a
syndicate on the prowl targeting large businesses.
“We are conducting investigations into the matter,” he
said. “We are also appealing to members of the public with information to come
forward and assist the police to arrest other suspects involved in the crime.”
Chagweda’s lawyer Ms Charity Tawanda of Tawanda Law
Practice, also confirmed the arrest of her client. She said there seemed to be
no connection between her client and the alleged facts.
“My client neither works for TM or Steward Bank nor was any
of the alleged sums transferred to him,” she said. Herald
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