Four suspects, three women and one man, who were arrested on 2 August in Meadowlands, Soweto for fraud, appeared in the Midrand Magistrates’ Court on 6 August where they were each granted R1 500 bail.
The suspects had been involved in multiple fraud cases in the Midrand area in June last year.
According to the police, the suspects defrauded unsuspecting people in the following manner:
- Ask strangers to activate Internet banking on their personal accounts but using suspect’s cellphone and mobile number
- Offer to pay victims R450
- All banking details are now accessible to the suspects, therefore, they use the victim’s name to open loan accounts
- Suspects create a false credit record in order to access loans.
“The biggest targets are the unemployed or those with a low income who seek to earn extra money and are unaware that an empty bank account does not make them immune to criminals,” said Midrand police acting spokesperson, Constable Thabiso Selowa.
The suspects’ ages range between 30 and 37. The court has ruled that the four must reappear before the court on 17 September.
“They all live in Meadowlands Zone 5 and the police received their information while following an investigation in an attempt to track down the suspects.”
Details: Midrand Police Station 011 347 1626.
