Pensioners lose millions to fraudsters
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday November 11, 2026 06:00
Following the revelations, Botswana Police Service (BPS) has warned members of the public to remain vigilant against individuals who use elaborate schemes to defraud them of their hard-earned savings. The tricksters normally exploit their victims’ financial vulnerability through deceptive investment schemes and other scams. BPS Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner Near Bagali, revealed that police in Gaborone are investigating five separate cases that were reported on November 4, 2026. He said in a media release that the matters involve victims who collectively lost over P1.5 million in incidents that occurred between February and October this year. Amongst the cases are two separate incidents in which 50-year-old women were allegedly duped into fraudulent arrangements.
In the first incident, one of the victims was allegedly persuaded to withdraw more than P800,000 from her pension benefits. The victim fell into the trap after being promised assistance in purchasing a house, only to discover that she had fallen victim to a scam. In the second incident, another woman allegedly sold her motor vehicle and surrendered more than P100,000 after being promised a more expensive replacement vehicle, which was never delivered. In another case, a 40-year-old woman allegedly lost over P520,000 after being convinced to invest in the purchase of 10 motor vehicles purportedly imported from Japan for resale. The suspects allegedly kept postponing delivery of the vehicles before eventually becoming unreachable, leaving the victim counting her losses. The other matter involving the elderly was when an 83-year-old woman was also allegedly defrauded of more than P70,000.
The victim had received a telephone call from a caller who claimed the elder had won P3,000 in a competition allegedly organised by a retail outlet. She was subsequently manipulated into making payments under false pretences. In a separate incident, a 65-year-old woman allegedly lost more than P10,000 to individuals who falsely presented themselves as police officers investigating a case. Following the incidents, Bagali urged members of the public to exercise caution when dealing with individuals promising lucrative investments, financial assistance or unexpected rewards. He advised members of the public to verify the identities of people claiming to be police officers or representatives of organisations before acting on their instructions.
The police spokesperson further cautioned against transferring money or surrendering valuables to individuals claiming that such payments are necessary for police investigations. Members of the public have also been urged to promptly report suspicious activities and suspected fraud to the nearest police station. The police have further encouraged people to share the warning with their families, particularly elderly relatives, to help protect them from falling victim to similar schemes. The BPS has reiterated its commitment to investigating the reported cases and bringing those responsible to justice.