SUSPECTED dating scammers, a male (27) and his female accomplice (32) have been remanded in custody until Monday, 18 December for a formal bail application.
The two appeared before the Polokwane Magistrates Court in Polokwane, Limpopo on Thursday, 14 December after they allegedly scammed a woman R650 000.
This comes after the woman randomly met a man who was driving a Mercedes Benz during September 2023 in Polokwane, and they started dating.
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While enjoying their new love, the woman told him about her personal problems and he promised to hook her up with a prophetess who would cast away all her problems.
Limpopo Hawks spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Matimba Maluleke said the woman alleged that she was then introduced to the female suspect who was the prophetess, who then told her she was going to assist in getting rid of her problems.
"According to the woman, they all engaged in prayers for about a week," he said.
In one of the prayer sessions, the female suspect came driving a BMW X6 carrying R4 million cash in a bag.
Maluleke said the woman was told the money was hers from her ancestors but she had to pay 10% of the total amount in order to get it.
"As she didn’t have money, she rushed to the bank and applied for a loan of R650 000 and gave it to her. After a while, the woman tried to contact the two but they were nowhere to be found," he said.
While still confused, she allegedly received a call from a property rental agent in Polokwane enquiring about the luxury house she rented at Woodhill Estate in Polokwane.
This is when she discovered that her particulars were fraudulently used as she never rented such a place, and she reported the matter to the Hawks.
"The Hawks visited the address on Monday, 27 November and found two vehicles, a Mercedes Benz and BMW X6 parked in the garage that was wide open but nobody was found inside the house. The vehicles were seized as they were previously used by the two when they met with the woman," he said.
Maluleke said on Tuesday, 12 December information was received that a Mercedes Benz vehicle that was used by the male suspect was spotted in Potchefstroom, North West.
"Through a proper coordination, the vehicle was followed and he together with his accomplice were arrested," he said.
