In a dramatic new development in the high-profile romance scam case that defrauded a woman out of R3 million, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, has arrested a second suspect in connection with the crime. The arrest comes after the victim, who wishes to remain anonymous to protect her privacy, fell victim to an online scam involving a man she believed to be a white male named “Mark Hermanus.”
The scam, which was first reported by IOL, saw the woman engage in a seemingly innocent online relationship with “Hermanus,” who convinced her that his son was gravely ill and needed urgent medical treatment. The man asked the victim for money to cover his son’s medical bills, eventually escalating to over R3 million. Despite promises to repay the money once his son’s medical bills were settled, the scammer disappeared, leaving the woman devastated.
The case took a significant turn when the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit arrested Nigerian national Gabriel Okori, the first suspect in the case. Okori, who was apprehended last year, has since been granted bail of R5,000 and appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud and theft.
In a recent breakthrough, the Hawks arrested a second suspect, who is believed to have played a key role in the fraudulent transactions. The second suspect, whose identity is yet to be revealed, was apprehended in Orange Farm, Johannesburg South, on Wednesday. He is linked to the African Bank account into which the victim transferred a portion of the stolen funds — specifically, a payment of R15,000.
“The complainant in the matter alleges that she met what she thought was a white male on Facebook, by the name of Mark Hermanus. The two exchanged cellphone numbers and began chatting on WhatsApp,” said Gauteng spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela.
The second suspect is expected to make his first appearance before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday, as authorities continue to build their case against those involved in the scam.
The romance scam has been part of a larger pattern of fraud cases that have plagued South Africa, where victims — often vulnerable women and men — have been swindled out of millions through false online relationships. IOL has been extensively covering these cases, with multiple victims coming forward to share their harrowing stories of being defrauded of life savings, pensions, and bank loans.
In one such case, Keneilwe, a woman who lost R2 million from her FNB pension account, claimed that the money was transferred without her knowledge or consent. She insists she never shared her banking app passwords with anyone and remains in the dark about how the funds were accessed.
As the Hawks continue their investigation into the growing number of romance scams, the authorities are under pressure to hold the culprits accountable and protect other potential victims from falling into the hands of fraudsters.
