Police have launched an operation to fish out criminals who are using Vice-President Inonge Wina’s name to swindle members of the public via social media.

In a statement, Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said the said criminals have been using forged immigration documents in Wina’s name purporting to be application forms and appointment letters.

Katongo stated that the fraudsters have further been asking members of the public to send a results verification fee amounting to K1, 200 for successful candidates.

“We wish to inform members of the public that there is a scam where criminals are using forged documents in the name of the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia, Her Honour, Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina to swindle unsuspecting members of the public through social media. One such document is a passport bearing her particulars. The criminals have also forged Immigration documents purporting to be application forms and appointment letters,” Katongo stated.

“The fake appointment letter reads in part ‘your job processing is going on and we want to inform you that your name has been registered in the ICT unit of the staff and employed government organisation of Zambia Immigration worldwide and your salary is K18,000 and you are to pay K1,200 for your authentication of your result and two weeks training with feeding allowance with accommodation while training, your transport and accommodation will be taken care of by the Zambia immigration and you are to pay directly to the Zambia Immigration Secretary Melinda Ngandwe. The immigration will call you after your payment’.”

Katongo has since cautioned members of the public to be weary of such criminals and avoid falling prey.

“They have also provided a ZANACO Bank account in the name of Mwale Nonde in which money is to be deposited. We therefore urge members of the public to be wary of such adverts and should not fall prey to these criminals by avoiding paying attention to such adverts and by avoiding sending money to the account provided. Investigations have been instituted in the matter so that the criminals behind this scam are brought to book,” stated Katongo.