Four inmates will be appearing in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday to face charges of forgery, impersonating police officers, uttering, and money laundering.
According to Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkwalase, the four inmates have been behind a scam that targeted men who used a secret online prostitution service. The inmates would pose as police officers.
“The victims would later be informed by someone purporting to be a police officer that a case of rape and fraud was open against them as they used fake money to pay the sex workers. They would also present a fake warrant of arrest through WhatsApp and demand payment to ensure that the police, along with the prosecutor, make the cases disappear,” Nkwalase said.
According to Nkwalase, their investigation revealed that a syndicate of inmates created profiles of police officers with their cellphones.
“They further sourced a call log form an online-based escort agency continuously to contact the victims, who paid them in fear of prosecution. Between May and August 2022, the amounts of R760 000 and R560 000 had been paid into accounts provided to the victims to deposit the money,” he said.
The Hawks led a cybercrime search at the Odi and Baviaanspoort correctional centres in Mabopane and Pretoria respectively on Thursday night. They seized 36 smartphones allegedly used to commit the crimes.
Police are requesting anyone who has fallen prey to this kind of extortion to come forward and contact detective, Captain Jacques Loock, on 082-7785626.
The four inmates will be appearing in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday, with the Hawks saying more arrests are imminent.
Source: The South African, IOL, News24, Times Live, image from IOL: Hawks