A Dar es Salaam resident has been arrested for allegedly impersonating a senior military officer on social media in a suspected online fraud scheme targeting young people.
The Tanzania Police Force confirmed the arrest of Samweli Maro Mwita, a bodaboda rider from Majohe, who is accused of creating a fake account on Facebook using the name and photo of Hassan Mabena.
According to police, the suspect used the account to post messages suggesting that opportunities had been announced, urging youth to follow certain procedures. Authorities say the message was designed to mislead the public and potentially facilitate fraud.
The arrest follows intelligence gathered by police cybercrime experts, who launched an investigation after receiving reports about the fake account. The suspect was tracked down and apprehended on April 18, 2026.
Police have reiterated their warning against the misuse of other people’s identities, especially those of government leaders and public figures, to open social media accounts.
Such actions, they said, are criminal offences under Tanzanian law and will be dealt with firmly.
The force has also urged the public to exercise caution when engaging with information shared on social media, advising users to verify claims through official channels before taking any action to avoid falling victim to scams.
Investigations are ongoing, and the suspect is expected to face further legal proceedings once the inquiry is completed.
