Are you the real Godfrey Lebeya? Fake Hawks head extorts more than R100k

A scammer pretending to be Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya has been arrested after extorting more than R100 000 from an associate of a prominent SA businessman.

Police say the 41-year-old suspect used “a profile picture and personal details resembling those of Lebeya” and allegedly reached out to the well-known businessman on WhatsApp.

The businessman, who resides in Gauteng, was told his phone had been hacked, before the fake Lebeya offered to help.

“Believing that he was communicating with the real National Head of the Hawks, the victim provided personal details and contact information of close associates,” Police spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said in a statement.

Mbambo told The Citizen that the suspect later reached out to at least one of the associates and solicited money by telling them that they had their personal details. The associate made several payments to the scammer in response, totalling more than R100 000.00″.

The extortionist was arrested on Saturday in Petrus Steyn, Free State, on charges of fraud and impersonating a police officer.

They will appear before the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 12 May.

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Public plea from the real Lebeya

The real Lebeya said he was happy his impersonator had been caught, and urged those who had been tricked to come forward.

“The community is warned against making payments to police officers as they are not authorised to solicit money for services rendered,” added Mbambo.

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