Fake prophet swindles 77-year-old woman of P25,000

Pini Bothoko | Wednesday April 23, 2025 14:31

According to No.13 District Officer Commanding, Senior Superintendent Obusitswe Lokae, the incident occurred over the Good Friday holiday when the elderly woman agreed to meet the so-called prophet for prayers.

The two travelled to a hill in Mmopane, where the fake prophet had promised to conduct a spiritual session to bless her money and improve her life.

“Whilst on the hill, the woman handed over P25,000 to the man, believing he would pray over it for blessings. He wrapped the money in a white cloth, and they both prayed together,” he said.

After the prayer session, Lokae said the man allegedly convinced the woman to drive him to a nearby mall, claiming he needed to purchase items that would be used to assist her spiritually.

'Upon arrival, he asked her to wait in the car whilst he went inside to shop. She waited for a long time, but the man never returned.

'The old woman then attempted to call him several times, but his phone was off. Realising she had been swindled, she reported the matter to the police,” Lokae added.

The police have since launched an investigation into the incident and are working to track down the suspect, who is currently on the run.

“This was the first time the victim met the man in person, and unfortunately, she doesn't know his full identity. We have intensified efforts to locate him and bring him to justice,” he said.

Following the incident, Lokae has urged the public to be cautious when dealing with strangers online, particularly those who claim to have spiritual powers because people have in the past been swindled of large amounts of money by people masquerading as pastors or prophets.