Central SA
Three arrested for online dating scam in Northern Cape─── 09:45 Fri, 27 Jan 2023
Three suspects made an appearance in the Kimberley Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Thursday 26 January 2023. The suspects were allegedly part of an online dating scam that defrauded unsuspecting victims of R4 million.
The Northern Cape Hawks’ Tebogo Thebe said the three suspects were in coalition with the main suspect, Pius Emokpe.
Thebe explained: "Emokpe would befriend his victims and pretend to be in a relationship with them. He also pretended to be a business owner who is in financial distress. It is then that he would swindle his victims."
The investigation revealed that the bank accounts used for money laundering belonged to the trio that worked with Emokpe.
“The Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, assisted by their Bellville counterparts, arrested additional suspects on the ongoing case of fraud and money laundering. The main accused, Pius Emokpe (49), was arrested and charged in May 2022. The latest arrests took place on Wednesday 25 January 2022 in Bellville, Cape Town,” Thebe said.
The suspects are expected to appear in court for a bail application on Thursday 2 February 2023. Meanwhile, the investigation still continues.
