Fake H-Metro Reporters On The Prowl, Claim To Have Dirt On Targets And Demand Huge Payouts

Con artists and extortionists posing as H-Metro journalists are on the prowl, allegedly demanding money from people in exchange for burying fake or sensational stories.

In the latest incident, a Harare legislator found himself targeted by one of the impostors. The man reportedly approached the MP claiming to be a reporter from H-Metro, and alleged he had damning information about the politician’s supposed extramarital affair.

According to the MP, the fake journalist claimed the “story” was so scandalous it would not only damage his public image, but could cost him his parliamentary seat. The individual then allegedly offered to make the story disappear for a fee.

The legislator, who asked not to be named, told H-Metro that the bogus reporter attempted to pressure him into paying up to avoid embarrassment. Said the MP:

He said that it would all be settled if I paid US$500. That was the moment I realised that something was wrong and this was a way to try and extort me.

He used a private number to call me and this meant that I was unable to try and reach out to him.

H-Metro Editor Robson Sharuko said this was not an isolated case, adding that the publication has received several reports in the past about individuals masquerading as H-Metro journalists.

He urged members of the public to be vigilant and verify the identities of anyone claiming to be from H-Metro. Said Sharuko:

There are many bogus H-Metro reporters out there and it appears they have now taken steroids because they have taken their game to a whole new level.

We keep getting all these stories of people who are saying they were contacted by H-Metro reporters whose names don’t exist among those who are employed by this newspaper.

The stories are similar and they usually involve these bogus reporters claiming they have explosive details of this man or that woman and they want to publish these stories.

Then, when they have pinned their subjects into a corner, they then tell them that the story could be stopped if they pay a certain amount of money.

Sadly, others have fallen into this trap and have been robbed of their money by these people while others have resisted and approached us and we have told them that these are bogus individuals.

For us, what is quite worrying is that our brand name is being tarnished by these people and they are also robbing people of their money.

More: H-Metro

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