Woman loses R365,000 and Toyota Fortuner to romance scam in Pretoria

Summary

A 44-year-old man was arrested in Pretoria on March 6 following allegations that he defrauded a woman of R365,000 and her Toyota Fortuner in a romance scam. The victim, who was romantically involved with a Congolese national still at large, reported the fraud in June 2023. Police allege the suspect posed as a businessman and convinced the victim to send money under false promises of clearing goods imported from overseas. The victim reportedly withdrew her savings and deposited the funds into bank accounts provided by the suspect. Authorities say she was coerced into selling her vehicle, with the proceeds also given to the suspect. The arrested suspect faced charges of fraud and money laundering in Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on March 7.