Man arrested for using fake Facebook profile to lure, kidnap, and rape women

Police have arrested a 24-year-old man who is accused of using his fake Facebook profile and credentials to lure, kidnap and rape women in Limpopo.

The man was handcuffed on Monday after a vigilant member of the public acted quickly to alert police about a female friend who was lured under false pretences, kidnapped and raped repeatedly.

Falling prey

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the man told police officers that his female friend had fallen prey to a dating scam where a suspect was using a fake Facebook account to lure women.

“He allegedly takes women from Gauteng to Limpopo on false promises of employment opportunities.

“The Limpopo provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe, was contacted and immediately mobilised a team to search for the victim. Within five hours of establishing this search party, the victim and kidnapper were traced to a filling station in Giyani, Limpopo — where the conman had run out of petrol and did not have funds to fill up his motor vehicle,” Mathe said.

Fake Facebook profile

According to the victim, the kidnapper goes by the name of Jeff Rals on Facebook and uses a picture and identity that belong to someone else.

Mathe said the alleged Facebook rapist met the victim in Pretoria.

“When the victim realised that the individual looked different from his Facebook profile, the scammer lied and said he was a driver sent by his brother, Jeff Rals, to pick her up.

“The scammer then drove to Limpopo with the victim under false pretences and proceeded to rape her repeatedly at his homestead. The victim was also extorted financially,” Mathe said.

ALSO READ: Another Facebook rapist arrested in Mpumalanga after raping teen

Online dating warning

Mathe warned online dating users not to be too trusting.

“Online dating scams can often lead to requests to meet online lovers, which could result in a kidnapping incident. These scammers often make the victim feel as though they have a genuine relationship.

“Once trust has been established, the scammer often requests money or to meet the victim, which results in a kidnapping incident, just like in this case, Mathe said.

Victims urged to come forward

She urged those who fell victim to the fake Facebook impostor to come forward.

“Limpopo police, under the leadership of Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, ought to be commended for acting swiftly to save the life of this young woman.

“The young woman is in the process of being reunited with her family today [on Tuesday] and the suspect is still in police custody and faces a charge of rape and kidnapping,” Mathe said.

ALSO READ: Parents warned against posting photos of kids online amid kidnapping concerns