Zimbabwe’s Fake Bitcoin Platform Scam: How Victims Are Recovering Their Money

In mid-2025, dozens of Zimbabweans were lured into investing with what appeared to be a legitimate Bitcoin trading firm on Facebook. Operating under the name “InnBucks Investment,” fraudsters promised outsized profits, asked for mobile-money deposits via Ecocash, then vanished—taking every cent. Similar schemes are now appearing around the globe, and victims everywhere are asking the same question: How can I get my money back?

Here’s an easy-to-follow guide backed by real-world experience and vetted by our high-risk marketing experts on documenting the scam, reporting it to the right places, and recovering as much as possible.

1. Scam Overview: What Really Happened

Impersonation: Scammers set up a Facebook page and used a hacked WhatsApp number (under the name “Michelle Chiunda”) to field questions.
Mobile-Money Requests: Victims were directed to send funds via Ecocash—a popular Zimbabwe mobile-payment service—making disputes harder.
Unrealistic Promises: Ads claimed a simple “auto-mining machine” could turn every $10 deposit into $100 within 24 hours, with no fees.

Once the money was sent, all communication stopped. Even Facebook’s support channels offered no refund, and WhatsApp had no obligation to return funds.

2. Why Smart People Still Fall Victim

Familiar Channels: Facebook ads and WhatsApp are trusted by millions, so people let their guard down.
Quick Wins: The promise of fast returns preys on anyone looking for extra income.
Limited Recourse: Mobile-money platforms like Ecocash make it tough to reverse transactions once they’re completed.

3. Five Recovery Steps That Work

Build Your Evidence File
- Screenshot every ad, chat, and payment receipt.
- Save Ecocash confirmation messages (date, time, recipient number).
- Note the exact URLs you clicked and the WhatsApp number used.
Contact Your Payment Provider
- Ecocash agents can flag the recipient’s wallet and sometimes freeze future transfers.
- Ask if they can trace withdrawals or web-agent top-ups linked to that number.
Report to Local Authorities
- Zimbabwe: File a report with the Police Cyber Unit and POTRAZ (the telecom regulator).
- Global: Report similar mobile-money fraud via national fraud hotlines (e.g., IC3 in the US, Action Fraud in the UK).
Use Online Fraud-Recovery Services
- Digital-asset forensics firms can trace crypto flows, even if scammers cash out into multiple wallets.
- Chargeback specialists negotiate directly with payment platforms—often on a success-fee basis, so there’s no upfront cost.
Raise Public Awareness
- Share your experience on community groups and consumer-protection forums.
- Tag the platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp) and urge them to suspend the scam page and associated accounts.

4. How to Prevent Future Scams

Verify Before You Send: Always confirm a company’s official website and support email—never rely solely on social-media ads.
Limit Mobile-Money Use: Treat Ecocash and similar services like cash—once you send it, you usually can’t get it back.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication: On every payment or messaging app you use.
Stay Informed: Follow trusted fraud-prevention pages and sign up for alerts from regulators.

Why FundsRefund Can Help

Recovering lost funds is a multi-step process requiring both speed and precision. At FundsRefund, we specialize in:

Turning screenshots and receipts into legal-grade dossiers.
Employing blockchain analysis and mobile-money tracing.
Negotiating reversals with payment providers under a no-win, no-fee model.