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unregistered vehicles with fake money in US$20, US$50 and US$100 denominations.
These crooks buy goods using conterfeit notes and get change in genuine notes.
However, not many cases have been reported amid concern that people are not aware of the scam.

A motorist was last Tuesday involved in a high-speed chase with three suspected conmen travelling in a black Mercedes Benz without registration plates along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway after they had allegedly conned a vendor at Juru Growth Point.

The conmen bought vegetables worth US$10 using a fake US$50 note and were given genuine US$40 as change.
The vendor alerted other vendors when she discovered she had been duped whereupon a motorist chased after the conmen.

The conmen however, jumped into their vehicle and sped off with the motorist in futile pursuit.
The vendor was then dropped-off at a tollgate near Shamva turn-off and made a report to the police.

No arrests have been made amid fears that more vendors could have fallen victim to the conmen.
Police spokesperson superintendent Andrew Phiri yesterday urged the public to be on the lookout.

“It’s the people’s duty to ensure that they don’t receive fake notes from customers or anyone they will be dealing with,” he said.
Supt Phiri urged people, especially those in business, to buy fake note detectors.

The cheapest fake note detector costs not more than US$3 in Harare.
“The general public should also be aware of security features on the notes,” said Supt Phiri.

People issued with fake notes should quickly inform the police for swift reaction.
They should also be able to identify the features or any other relevant information of the conmen.

Supt Phiri said they had noticed an upsurge in such cases and it was their role to educate the public.
He warned those behind such cases that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with them.

“They can run away but they will never hide as the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them,” he said.
Criminal Investigations Department spokesperson Detective Inspector Augustine Zimbili urged people to report the cases to the police.
He said people needed to thoroughly check their money before making transactions.

“Most of these fake notes are made from bond paper which is softer, so people should check security features before making any transactions,” said Det Insp Zimbili.
They could also do this by tilting the notes against light which will make it easy to reveal the security features.
Last month, some businesspeople in and around Harare fell prey to conmen who were using counterfeit money to buy small items in order to receive change in genuine money.

The people were also targeting kombis as they paid using counterfeit notes in denominations of US$10 and US$20 to redeem change.
Some were reportedly targeting filling stations at night to buy fuel and other consumables.
Since dollarisation, fake notes in rand and United States dollars, have been in circulation.

In Bulawayo last year, some retailers and other businesses refused to accept high denominations following a series of fake note transactions.
Fake United States dollars believed to be from Mozambique were circulating in Mutare and surrounding areas.