Dec 1, 2022·Bloemfontein, South Africa 29-year-old man defrauds victims of R85,800 via fake US government grant email scheme
A 29-year-old man is set to appear in Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court after impersonating a US government official in a fraud scheme that swindled nearly R100,000 from victims. The suspect is accused of deceiving a victim in December 2022 with an email offering a Covid-19-related grant, prompting her to transfer R85,800 into a specified bank account. The scammer also provided a list of purported beneficiaries, which led the victim to discover her friend had also been scammed. The suspect was arrested in Strand, Western Cape, on May 21 following a year-long investigation by the Hawks. The investigation revealed the scam exploited personal connections and targeted individuals during the pandemic. The case highlights concerns about identity theft and online fraud.
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