Pretoria - A Hawks sting operation has landed a government order scam syndicate behind bars.
The nine, including five Ugandans and one Malawian national, were nabbed on Tuesday by members of the Hawks' commercial crime unit at a house in Sandton.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the group have been linked to more than 104 illegal transactions in Gauteng alone.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate had access to a government registered supplier database.
“Their modus operandi was to contact suppliers with urgent orders. They would then send the order forms to unsuspecting victims as well as details of a specific company from which the required items should be purchased,” explained Mulaudzi
The victim will then be asked to pay a deposit or full amount before delivery.
In order to convince the victim, the syndicate had also created a virtual store website.
The syndicate duped individuals claiming to have “super powers” to multiply their profits.
The nine made a brief appearance at the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday, facing charges of fraud and theft. They were remanded in custody until next week Thursday.
Acting Hawks Head Major General Mthandazo Ntlemeza has hailed the arrests and warned that the Hawks are on the prowl of similar syndicates nationwide.
“Fraudsters will remain a target, and it’s only a matter of time before we come calling on others,” said Major General Ntlemeza.
Individuals who might have fallen victim to the scam are encouraged to contact the Hawks offices on 011 870 5300.
Meanwhile, four out of the possible ten suspects who were sought for a cash-in-transit at Soshanguve Mall in July will appear before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday.
The quartet and others, aged between 29 and 37, allegedly stormed the mall during a pension pay out and got away with an undisclosed amount of money.
Ten elderly women were injured during the ordeal.
In another separate incident, a 30-year-old Nigerian national who had been arrested for human trafficking following the escape of a victim in May this year will also appear in court tomorrow.
Police said two ladies allegedly lured the victim to a house in Rosettenville under the pretence that they were going to meet one of the ladies' boyfriend.
“Upon arrival the victim was drugged and forced to wear a mini skirt and was used as a sex slave.”
The Hawks said they were hot on the heels of the two ladies who are believed to be the ones used by the main suspect to recruit women. –SAnews.gov.za
