Feja-Feja gang back in Harare CBD, stealing money from citizens in broad daylight….BEWARE
The notorious street scam known as feja-feja has resurfaced in Harare’s central business district (CBD), with several unsuspecting members of the public reportedly losing money in broad daylight.
The scam, which has long plagued busy urban centres, involves a fake “winning game” in which victims are tricked into believing they can easily make money. In reality, feja-feja is a carefully choreographed con run by a group of accomplices who pose as players, onlookers, and occasional “winners” to lure passers-by.
Social media platforms have been awash with warnings from residents who say the scamsters are operating openly on crowded streets, particularly in high-foot-traffic areas. Victims are often drawn in by the apparent success of others, only to realise too late that the game is rigged.
One warning circulating online reads:
“Hapamihwe mihwe | Team Feja Feja in action along the streets of Harare. Vese vanenge vachizivana, iwe ndiwe wega unenge uri mutsva muchiGame icho.”
(There is no luck here | Team Feja Feja in action on the streets of Harare. Everyone involved knows each other; you are the only newcomer in that ‘game’.)
A well-known con game
Feja-feja, sometimes likened to the classic shell game, is illegal and has previously been targeted by police during crackdowns on street crime. The scam relies on speed, distraction, and peer pressure, making it difficult for victims to recover their money once it is taken.
In the past, authorities have warned that no one ever truly “wins” in feja-feja, except the syndicate running it. Police have periodically arrested suspects, but the game tends to resurface during times of economic hardship, when many people are desperate for quick cash.
Residents are being urged to avoid engaging with street gambling games and to report suspected scam operations to the police. Authorities have also been called upon to increase patrols in the CBD to curb the growing menace and protect the public from falling prey to the crooks behind feja-feja.
