By A Correspondent | ZimEye | In May 2023, Silvano believed he had struck a promising deal with Ashyleigh Kuda Masango and the latter’s mother Mary Gwatidzo, who claimed they could provide him with two jobseeker Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) papers. These documents were critical for Silvano to secure legal employment opportunities in the UK. Trusting Ashyleigh’s assurances, Silvano transferred £7,300 to him, confident that the arrangement would pave the way for a better future.

However, as months went by, Silvano received neither the promised COS papers nor any substantive updates from Ashyleigh. At first, Ashyleigh blamed administrative delays and external complications. But as the delays stretched on, his explanations grew increasingly vague, filled with excuses about frozen accounts and inaccessible funds.

A Growing Suspicion

By late 2023, Silvano’s frustration turned to suspicion. Ashyleigh’s claims of financial troubles with Tide Bank and Wise initially sounded plausible, but his repeated inability to provide evidence or updates about the COS papers raised alarms. Silvano pressed him for clarity, but Ashyleigh’s responses were evasive and filled with empty promises.

Feeling duped, Silvano intensified his demands for either the COS papers or a full refund. Ashyleigh continued to plead for more time, insisting the delays were out of his control.

A False Resolution?

In October 2024, under increasing pressure, Ashyleigh proposed a repayment plan to resolve the matter. He signed a formal agreement acknowledging the £7,300 debt and committed to repaying it in three installments: £2,000 by the end of October, £4,000 by November, and the remaining £1,300 by December. Ashyleigh claimed he would restart his business activities and use personal accounts to generate the repayment funds.

Reluctantly, Silvano agreed, though he remained skeptical. While the contract seemed like progress, doubts lingered. Why hadn’t Ashyleigh provided proof of the “frozen accounts”? And why had he been so evasive about the COS papers all along?

The Scam Unravels

As the first repayment deadline approached, Silvano’s fears were confirmed. Ashyleigh failed to deliver the £2,000 payment, citing new “complications” with his accounts and claiming further delays beyond his control. When Silvano demanded proof of these issues, Ashyleigh deflected, offering no tangible evidence to support his claims.

Frustrated, Silvano sought legal advice. Investigations revealed that Ashyleigh had no legitimate business operations and that the COS papers he promised had never been processed. Worse, he had used similar tactics to scam others, offering fake immigration-related services and concocting elaborate excuses to delay repayment.

The Legal Fallout

Silvano filed a lawsuit in November 2024, presenting the signed repayment contract and transaction history as evidence. The court ruled in his favor, ordering Ashyleigh to repay the full £7,300 plus damages. Further investigations exposed a pattern of deceit, with Ashyleigh targeting vulnerable individuals seeking immigration or employment assistance.

Authorities soon launched a broader investigation into Ashyleigh’s activities, uncovering a web of fraudulent schemes. He was ultimately convicted of his crimes, and his victims received partial restitution from his seized assets.

A Hard Lesson Learned

Silvano’s ordeal became a cautionary tale in his community. He shared his story widely, warning others about the dangers of entrusting large sums of money to individuals without proper vetting. The Groningen scam, as it came to be known, highlighted the importance of vigilance, legal safeguards, and persistence in holding fraudsters accountable.

Although Silvano eventually reclaimed his funds, the emotional toll of the scam lingered. His experience served as a stark reminder of how easily trust can be exploited—and the strength it takes to fight for justice.