MBOMBELA -The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) together with the banking industry and mobile service providers are looking for a suspected banking crime syndicate ringleader, Mr Mduduzi Zakhele Nhlapo in connection with fraud.
According to the Hawk’s Capt Paul Ramoloko, Nhlapo who is also known by his aliases Zakes or Big Boss is leader a sophisticated syndicate that obtains clients’ profiles from known banks.
He added that this information is then used to do SIM swaps and to transfer funds via mobile banking from victims’ accounts.
“These crimes are often committed through the assistance of corrupt bank officials and agents in an organised fashion. The mobile service providers and the banks have put security measures in place, but with the assistance of the corrupt bank and mobile network service providers, the syndicate always finds a way to access clients’ banking information fraudulently. This syndicate always changes their modus operandi when they are detected and when some of them are arrested,”he said.
Nhlapo whose identity number is 880217 5176 08 1, is also a drag racer and belongs to a group called “Street Fighters”, knows that he is wanted by the police.
“He is suspected of doing his rounds in Gauteng, especially the Vaal and Soweto areas. The Hawks strongly believe that Zakhele’s arrest will play a pivotal role in closing down this syndicate’s operations,”Ramoloko concluded.
For any information which may lead to Nhlapo’s whereabouts, contact Lieutenant Colonel Links of the Hawks, who is investigating this matter, at 071 481 2658 or 071 481 2658.
