Hercules police warn against increase of online scam victims in the area

Hercules police have warned Pretoria West residents about the increase of cases related to online dating.

Hercules police spokesperson Captain Bonginkosi Msimango said the latest victim was a 48-year-old man who was robbed of R300 000 on Friday, at Blue Current Crescent in Kirkney around 20:00.

“He was driving a Porsche. He was attacked by five men, one of them introduced himself as the husband to the woman known as Leah, this is the name used to lure the victim.”

Msimango said in most instances, police received complaints from victims who usually came from Johannesburg to meet the woman in Hercules.

“On their arrival, five or more males will attack the victims and rob them of their belongings and cash. Some of the victims are robbed of their bank cards and a large amount of money is withdrawn.”

He said the scam has been happening in a house that had been vacated.

Msimango said the scam has been happening since last year, and sometimes two complaints were received in a month, about the scam.

He said police did not want to conclude that the victims were only from Johannesburg, but they believed some people were not reporting the crimes.

“Sometimes you might find that there are people who are from around the area or Pretoria but they do not want to report it because they fear that their identity might be known to their loved ones or wives.

“For people who stay in Johannesburg, it would be difficult for their wives or loved ones to know that they have fallen victims of such scams.”

He urged men to avoid online dating because of the dangers that came with it.

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“Avoid online dating because you might get robbed, kidnapped, or even killed because these incidents are happening rapidly.”

Msimamgo also warned women to refrain from dating men who claimed they were from overseas.

He said victims were told by perpetrators that they have sent them expensive gifts via courier and in order for them to receive the gifts, they should pay a certain amount for shipment or courier.

Msimango said because the women believed they were loved, and thought that they had “scored” on dating men from overseas, the prices they paid for the courier to receive their alleged expensive gift seemed very little to what they had been promised.

“They will tell them that they have sent them a gift worth $500 000. The amount they have to pay for a courier seems very little. They even end up sending up to R100 000, until they realise they are being scammed.”

Hercules police urged men and women who dated on social media or online to refrain from such behaviour as they ended up being victims of robbery, fraud and kidnapping.

Msimango said they were yet to arrest anyone “at this stage, but investigations are continuing”.