A 29-year-old suspect has been apprehended by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation based in Bloemfontein and charged for fraud and money laundering.
The arrest follows an extensive investigation relating to fraud allegations where approximately R85 800 was swindled from an unsuspecting complainant in December 2022.
It is alleged that the complainant was contacted via e-mail by a suspect who introduced himself as a representative of the government of the United States of America. The complainant was promised a Covid-19 related grant on condition that she deposits money into a certain bank account. The suspect sent the complainant a list of other individuals said to be qualifying for the same grant. The complainant recognised her friend’s name on the list and contacted her on Facebook. The friend confirmed receipt of the payout. However, it was later discovered that, all along, she had been communicating with a scammer who had hacked her friend’s Facebook account.
The matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in Bloemfontein for investigation, which resulted in the arrest of the suspect in Strand, Western Cape on 21 May 2025.
Free State Hawks Spokesperson Warrant Officer Fikizwa Matoti said the is due to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Monday, 26 May 2025.