A 44-year-old man was arrested in Pretoria on March 6 after being linked to a devastating romantic scam that saw a woman defrauded of a staggering R365,000 and her Toyota Fortuner. The arrest, made by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, marks a significant breakthrough in the case.
The fraud case first came to light in June 2023 when the victim reported that she had been duped into giving away large sums of money and her vehicle. Police allege that the woman had been romantically involved with a Congolese national who is still at large. The suspect allegedly posed as a businessman and convinced the victim to send money with the false promise that it would be used to clear goods shipped from overseas.
The victim, trusting her partner, reportedly withdrew all her savings and deposited the funds into various bank accounts provided by the scammer, including one that belonged to the 44-year-old man who was arrested. Authorities also claim that the victim was coerced into selling her vehicle and handing over the proceeds to the suspect.
Despite the arrest, the investigation is far from over. Authorities are still searching for the main suspect and other individuals who may have received the fraudulent funds in their bank accounts. The arrested man, whose identity has not yet been revealed, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on March 7, facing serious charges of fraud and money laundering.
The case highlights the growing issue of romance scams, where unsuspecting victims are manipulated into parting with large sums of money and valuable assets under the guise of romantic relationships. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant against such fraudulent schemes.
