INLSA
Two con artists lie on the ground after being arrested in a sting operation in Durban. Picture: Bongani Mbatha
Two men linked to a multimillion-rand scam syndicate were arrested in a sting operation by the Hawks on Thursday.
Colonel Michael Khumalo, of the Hawks’ anti-corruption unit, said the syndicate operated throughout the country.
“They advertise in newspapers that if you give them R30 000, they can make you R400 000 richer in 10 days,” he said.
Khumalo said that the Hawks had received information about the men’s operation on Wednesday night.
He had called the men, pretending to be a potential client, and had scheduled a meeting near the old Durban International Airport for Thursday morning.
The national intervention unit was called to be on standby to arrest them.
The men showed up and, after giving some details to Khumalo, who was dressed in civilian clothes, armed members of the intervention unit swooped in and arrested them.
The men’s cellphones showed that amounts of R70 000, R500 000 and R900 000 had been deposited into their various bank accounts.
The police also recovered a bank card and receipts that the men had issued to people they had scammed.
“Their cellphones show that money had been deposited into their accounts since 2010, which is worrying,” said Khumalo. “Police will now investigate their bank accounts, homes and cellphone transactions.”
Khumalo said he believed the men were also part of a syndicate that sent e-mails and SMSes congratulating people on winning large amounts of money.
However, they ask you to deposit R20 000 for bank charges before you can claim the prize.
Khumalo added that more arrests could be made. – The Mercury
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Hawks swoop on scam syndicate