Upington police foil R600k scam, arrest three suspects

IN A DETERMINED effort to combat fraudulent activities and scams, the Upington Border Police recently took action in the ZF Mgcawu District of the Northern Cape. Acting on crime intelligence information, officers investigated suspects who were allegedly in the process of defrauding a woman who applied for a loan.

The suspects had allegedly convinced her to pay them a significant sum of cash, promising to pray for it to significantly appreciate in value.

According to provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Omphile Masegela, a preliminary investigation was conducted while authorities attempted to locate the woman and prevent the transaction.

On July 18, the victim was successfully traced. She confirmed that she had applied for a loan amounting to R600,000 and had already handed over R480,000 in cash to the suspects the previous day.

Despite their initial search yielding no results, new information indicated that the suspects had left Upington.

With the assistance of the ZFM Highway Patrol, the suspects were apprehended on the N14 before reaching Olifantshoek. The police discovered R345,000 in their possession.

The trio, all foreign nationals aged 30, 34, and 43, now face charges of fraud.

Masegela said that the police are urging the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to similar scams.