A bogus estate agent, Hlobisile Mdlalose, has been sentenced to an effective 10 years in prison after defrauding a homebuyer of R650,000. Mdlalose, 42, was sentenced in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday for her involvement in the fraudulent scheme.
The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation, also known as the Hawks, reported that Mdlalose was arrested in Johannesburg in September 2023 and subsequently transported back to the Eastern Cape to face trial.
The victim, who was looking to purchase a house, came across an advertisement online for a property in Newtown, Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape. Upon expressing interest in the property, the victim contacted the number provided in the advertisement and was soon in communication with Mdlalose, who claimed to be the estate agent handling the sale.
Mdlalose instructed the victim to make a payment and sent an offer to purchase via email. The victim signed the offer and promptly returned it. Following that, the victim was contacted by a law firm, Fotoh Associates Inc., requesting FICA (Financial Intelligence Centre Act) documents. After providing the requested documentation, the victim received another email with banking details, specifically for Nedbank, instructing them to transfer the payment into that account.
Believing the process to be legitimate, the victim transferred R650,000 to the bank account provided. However, the victim later received a call from the law firm, notifying them that no payment had been received. The firm further confirmed that the bank account belonged to neither their company nor any of their clients.
Mdlalose was arrested following the revelation of the scam, and she was initially released on R8,000 bail. Now, after a thorough investigation, she has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for her role in the fraudulent scheme, bringing an end to a case that highlights the growing issue of online property scams.
