A training institute has come under fire following allegations that two employees defrauded 32 students out of a total of US$1,920 by falsely promising courses in baking, catering, makeup, and hairdressing.
The suspects, Patricia Makutsi (19) and another individual known only as Tatenda, were employed at Hello-Tech Institute, located at the intersection of Harare Street and Albion Street. The legitimacy of the institution is now in doubt, as it appears to have been operating a fraudulent scheme instead of providing genuine training programs.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the ongoing investigation and urged anyone with information to assist in apprehending the suspects.
According to reports, the alleged fraud was perpetrated through social media advertisements that encouraged victims to pay US$60 per month for the courses. However, when students arrived on the scheduled start date, they encountered a series of excuses.
Initially, the receptionist informed them that they needed to wait for additional students from outside Harare. When February 4—the official start date—arrived, they were told that the necessary training materials were not yet available. Ultimately, the materials never showed up, and the supposed trainers vanished, leaving the students without refunds or options for recourse.
As the suspects remain at large, authorities are investigating whether Hello-Tech Institute was ever a legitimate training facility or merely a cover for scamming unsuspecting students.
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