By Chisomo Phiri
Police in Lilongwe have apprehended a notorious software hacker for allegedly swindling millions of Kwacha from unsuspecting business individuals.
The suspect, identified as Lovemore Chikopa, was taken into custody from a guest house where he had accumulated a bill of over K1 million during his 10-day stay.
Chikopa’s hacking schemes targeted high-profile business executives and entrepreneurs, deceiving them into believing he had transferred funds into their accounts through the banking system.
In his most recent attempt, he targeted a businessman in Area 47, in Lilongwe, ordering car batteries worth over 700,000 Kwacha, claiming he would pay through the banking system.
He sent a fake bank alert message of payment using a smart app, but the victim became suspicious after failing to receive a corresponding bank notification.
After being duped, the victim reported the incident to Lingadzi Police Station, and its chief Assistant Commissioner of Police, Billy Chimbonga, ordered detectives to hunt down the suspect, leading to his arrest.
Chikopa has been paraded before his victims, and police have recovered some of the stolen items, including expensive clothes, which he allegedly stole from different business individuals.
The estimated total loss from Blantyre, Salima, and Lilongwe, where Chikopa willfully admitted to having committed similar crimes, is believed to be in the region of millions.
Meanwhile, Lingadzi Police Station is urging the public, especially business individuals who use electronic payment methods, to be more vigilant and take online scammers seriously.
Chikopa 26, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Information and Communication Technology in addition to a Diploma in Hacking and Prolation Systems, hails from Bokosi village in the area of Traditional Authority(T/A)Mpama in Chiradzulu district.
