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A person in handcuffs.
Police in the Western Cape have arrested two women, aged 59 and 53, in Strand for allegedly defrauding about 80 victims of nearly R2 million through a bogus travel scheme.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie says that the victims had responded to a social media advertisement promoting a trip to Thailand for R26 000 per person. The trip never materialised, leading to multiple reports being filed with police stations across Gauteng, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
“On the advertisement, it was stated that each person should pay an amount of R26 000 into the bank accounts of the two suspects,” Pojie said.
“When the victims realised that the trip was not going to materialise, they reported it to different police stations across the country.”
Pojie added that the cases were centralised in the Western Cape.
“After investigations, the suspects were interviewed and failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the missing funds. They were arrested at their residences in Strand and will appear in the Strand Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering.”.
#sapsWC Investigators attached to the Provincial Commercial Crimes Investigation Unit arrested two females aged 59 and 53 on 22 November 2024 in Strand in connection with fraud amounting to approximately R1.9 million, meant for a promised trip to Thailand. ML… pic.twitter.com/4i7LBoaMPA
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) November 24, 2024
