The syndicate was arrested by the Hawks and the police’s Crime Intelligence Unit which had been tracking the activities of the nine suspects for months.
Spokesperson for the Hawks, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, alleged that the syndicate would pose as a fake government agency. He said, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate had access to a government-registered supplier database.”
It is alleged that they created a false government agency with fraudulent documents and posed as suppliers. They would then send victims quotes and request they pay upfront. The goods were never delivered.
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The syndicate also allegedly created a virtual muti store website and promised that they could multiply the victims’ money.
When the arresting team arrived at First Street in Parkmore, they found laptops, computers, different government documents as well as a ‘muti’ shrine in one of the rooms.
Mulaudzi alleged that the nine suspects had made more than 104 illegal transactions in the Gauteng area, and claimed the Hawks and police investigation continued to uncover activities in the rest of the country.
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The nine suspects, between the ages of 22 and 36, made a brief appearance at the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 3 September, facing charges of fraud and theft. They were remanded in custody until 10 September.
Acting Hawks head, Major General Mthandazo Ntlemeza has hailed the operation and warned that the Hawks were on the prowl for similar syndicates nationwide.
Ntlemeza said, “To think that that syndicate operated from a house and was able to use two different telephone codes to steal from innocent victims is worrying. We are, however, happy that we have finally broken the back of a major syndicate which has been giving us sleeplessness nights. Fraudsters will remain a target, and it’s only a matter of time before we come calling on others.”
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