FBI and Hawks Arrest 8 in Cape Town for R100-Million Internet Scam

Eight foreign nationals, aged between 33 and 52, were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning for their links to an alleged R100-million internet scam during a large-scale operation in Cape Town.

The group was arrested in a joint operation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Secret Service (USSS) Investigations, Interpol and with assistance from South Africa’s Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit.

The suspects are alleged to have been involved in money laundering and international-wide scale financial fraud.

Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said all suspects will be charged with a variety of financial crimes, including conspiracy to commit wire/mail fraud and money laundering.

“The suspects in this investigation are alleged to have ties to a transnational-organised crime syndicate originating in Nigeria.

“It is alleged that these suspects preyed on victims, many of whom are vulnerable widows or divorcees, who were led to believe that they were in a genuine romantic relationships but were scammed out of their hard earned money.”

Mogale said the suspects used social media websites, online dating websites to find and connect with their victims.

Another modus operandi used by the suspects was business emails, where email accounts were diverted in order to change banking details.

“They assumed fake names and trolled dating sites.

“Once they had ingratiated themselves to their victims, they allegedly concocted sob-stories about why they needed money – i.e., taxes to release an inheritance, essential overseas travel, crippling debt, etc., and then siphoned money from victims’ accounts to the amount of R100 million.”

Mogale said the crimes allegedly committed by the suspects hit close to home.

“Neighbours, parents, friends and family would be targets of this organisation.

“The fraudsters intimidated and berated their victims, ruined their lives and then disappeared. We are confident that this investigation will have a significant impact on this region and beyond,” said Mogale.

The FBI estimates that more than 100 people lost more than R100 million in romance scams since 2011.

Last year, Carte Blanche exposed how Cape Town had become the dating scam capital of Africa… with a sophisticated network of scammers preying on lonely hearts to make off with millions. International law enforcement allegedly dubbed the Mother city ‘New Lagos’. The current affairs show also investigated how some singles still fall for these romance scams which leave them destitute, and offered the following tips:

In a statement today, the Hawks said the operation was initiated based on the Mutual Legal Assistance from Central Authorities of the USA which was approved by South Africa.

Also assisting in the operation was Crime Intelligence (CI), K9, National Intervention unit, Special Task Force (STF), Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS), Criminal Record Centre and Cape Town Metro police.

To report any suspected online scam fraud, file a report via your nearest police station.

You can watch Carte Blanche on Sundays in South Africa on DStv Now, or stream it overseas in most countries on Showmax International from Tuesdays. 

WATCH Carte Blanche investigated the online love scams last year:

https://youtu.be/Rl3FLdxjgO0

Sources: SAnews.gov.za, SAPS and Carte Blanche