A fraud syndicate which operated out of Johannesburg and swindled a US-based company out of around R7.3m was taken down in raids across Johannesburg on Thursday.
TimesLIVE sources said the Johannesburg-based syndicate diverted the money it allegedly stole to romance scam victims who acted as unwitting money mules.
The romance scam victims believed the source of the millions funnelled into their accounts was legit and they were asked to forward the money to accounts held by alleged syndicate members who used fake online identities to lure lonely women.SA and US law enforcement authorities have jointly cracked down on Nigerian fraud syndicates in SA over the past two years.
Eight Black Axe leaders were arrested in Cape Town and Johannesburg last year. and according to insurance investigators, this has led to a massive drop in the group’s activities and similar cybercrimes. . The eight face extradition to the US, where they will face fraud charges for stealing more than R100m from romance scam victims there.Hawks investigators have also secured the conviction of Nigerian fraudster Abdul Olatunji, who is expected to be sentenced on April 4 for BEC fraud.
Hawks head , Lt-Gen Godfrey Lebeya commended the work of the multi-disciplinary team which led to the arrests on Thursday. “Organised criminal groups should know law enforcement agencies are collaborating on an international level to dismantle criminal networks”, said Lebeya.READ MORE:
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hawks and US Secret Service swoop on Joburg fraud syndicateAn alleged fraud syndicate with ties to Nigerian organised crime was dealt a crippling blow as Hawks investigators swooped on addresses across Johannesburg on Thursday.
Read more »
Oil prices sink as US considers tapping reserves, stocks struggleWTI tumbled more than five percent and Brent more than four percent as reports said President Joe Biden was looking at releasing a million barrels a day for several months as he tries to temper a surge in the market to more than $100.
Read more »
US warned firms about Russia's Kaspersky software day after invasionThe US government began privately warning some American companies the day after Russia invaded Ukraine that Moscow could manipulate software designed by Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky to cause harm, according to a senior US official and two people familiar with the matter.
Read more »
US, South Korea seen resuming major military drills as North Korea tensions riseJoint South Korean and US military drills set to kick off next month could for the first time in years include more weaponry and troops, and more aggressive messaging as tensions with North Korea rise.
Read more »
US mobile operator shutting down 3G CDMA networkT-Mobile US will shut down its legacy 3G wireless network after giving users more time to upgrade their phones.
Read more »
Oil tumbles as Biden considers releasing 180 million barrels from US reserves | Fin24Oil tumbled on signs the Biden administration is considering tapping US reserves in a potentially massive release to tackle rising inflation and supply shortages following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Read more »