BELLVILLE – Two young men appeared in the Bellville Magistrates Court today (10 July) following their arrest for an elaborate Facebook romance scam that defrauded a Western Cape woman of over R3.4 million in just two months.
The suspects, aged 26 and 22, were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crimes Investigation 419 scam Task Team on Tuesday in Mfuleni and Strand respectively, bringing the total number of arrests in this case to five.
The Facebook friendship that cost millions
The sophisticated scam began in August 2024 when one of the suspects befriended the victim through Facebook. What started as innocent online conversations quickly moved to WhatsApp, where the scammer began weaving an elaborate web of deception.
“The suspect spun a tale about his sick son and shared what appeared to be his banking login details with the complainant,” said Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale. “He instructed her to log into his bank account and transfer money, claiming it was for his son’s urgent medical bills.”
When the victim was unable to complete the transfers as requested, the suspect escalated his approach, asking her to “lend” him money directly, starting with what he described as “just a few thousand dollars” for immediate medical expenses.
Two month deception drains life savings
Over the course of eight weeks, the trusting victim transferred R3 415 000 to the scammer, believing she was helping save a child’s life. The money was immediately redistributed to accomplices across the country, with promises of full reimbursement once the ‘medical bills’ were settled.
Those promises never materialised, and the victim eventually realised she had fallen prey to one of South Africa’s most common online scams targeting women through social media platforms.
Part of a larger criminal network
This case highlights the growing threat of romance and sympathy scams on Facebook and other social media platforms, particularly targeting women who are approached by seemingly genuine profiles.
The Hawks’ investigation has revealed an extensive criminal network operating across multiple provinces. Three other suspects were previously arrested in connection with the same case. Gabriel Okoli, a Nigerian national, was arrested in Gordon’s Bay in October 2024, a suspect was arrested in Orange Farm in March 2025 and another was taken into custody in Soweto in June 2025.
All three earlier suspects are currently out on bail.
Rising trend of social media fraud
The case represents a growing trend of sophisticated online fraud targeting South African women through social media platforms. These scams typically begin with fraudsters creating fake profiles and targeting women on Facebook. Once initial contact is established, conversations are moved to WhatsApp for more personal communication.
The criminals then fabricate urgent situations requiring financial assistance, often involving sick family members or emergency medical bills. Victims are manipulated into transferring large sums of money through carefully crafted emotional appeals. Once money is received, contact is either broken entirely or excuses are made for why promised repayments cannot be made.
Legal proceedings and additional arrests expected
The two latest suspects face charges of fraud and money laundering when they appeared in the Bellville Magistrates Court today.Mogale indicated that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected as the Hawks continue to unravel the criminal network.
Protecting yourself from Facebook romance scams
Law enforcement agencies advise the public to be extremely cautious when forming relationships online. Warning signs include someone immediately wanting to move conversations off the original platform, sharing personal banking information, or asking for financial assistance. Other red flags are creating urgent medical or family emergencies requiring immediate money transfers, avoiding video calls or in-person meetings, and using profile photos that appear too professional or stock-like.
Reporting online fraud
Victims of online fraud are encouraged to report incidents immediately to their local police station or the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crimes Investigation unit. Quick reporting can help authorities trace money transfers and potentially recover stolen funds.
Anyone with information about similar scams or this case is urged to contact the Hawks at their nearest office or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
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