What looked like a desperate plea for financial help from a trusted hospital official turned into a costly trap, leaving four people K1.4 million poorer and one man behind bars.
Police in Mzuzu have arrested 51-year-old John Makisoni for allegedly taking part in a WhatsApp fraud scheme that saw criminals hack the account of a Hospital Administrator at Mzuzu Central Hospital and use it to deceive victims into sending them money.
Mzuzu Police Station Assistant Public Relations Officer Edson Chipeni said the fraudsters gained access to the WhatsApp account of Timothy Soko before making themselves administrators of an official hospital WhatsApp group.
“They posed as Soko and sent messages to his close contacts, claiming he urgently needed money and would repay it later. Four victims were convinced to send a total of K1,431,650,” said Chipeni.
The scam was reported to Luwinga Police Unit on June 24, prompting officers to launch investigations against unknown suspects.
Chipeni said investigators, with technical support from TNM and Airtel, traced one of the mobile numbers used to receive the money to Lilongwe.
Luwinga Police then worked with Lingadzi Police, leading to Makisoni’s arrest in Lilongwe before he was transferred to Mzuzu for questioning.
During interviews, Makisoni allegedly admitted receiving the money and told investigators that he later transferred it to a foreign mobile number, keeping only 15 percent as his commission.
Makisoni, who comes from Kadulanya Village under Traditional Authority Kamenyagwaza in Dedza District, is expected to appear in court soon to answer a charge of fraud other than false pretence.
Police say investigations are continuing to trace and arrest the remaining suspect believed to have taken over Soko’s WhatsApp account.
