PRETORIA – The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team caught up with Norman Bafana Chauke (31) for banking cards related fraud and theft amounting to at least R70 000.
The team pounced on Chauke at a well-known finance services company along Fehrsen Street in Brooklyn. He was searched and papers containing bank card details of owners complete with Card Verification Values and expiry dates were found in his possession.
The Hawks’ pursuit for the fraudster dates back to October 2020 after the team had gathered intelligence on his illegal trade. At the time the team had caught wind of reports of Chauke brazenly selling bank card details on the black market. These details were said to have been extracted from unsuspecting customers whilst they transacted at his workplace.
The allegations were put to the test through a sting operation where the team purchased a stack of cards from the target. The details contained in the copied cards were authenticated by the affected banks as that of their customers. The team were hot on the heels of Chauke until confirmation of his work address was received recently resulting in his arrest on Monday, 03 May 2021.
Chauke has appeared at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 05 May 2021, facing charges of fraud and theft in Contravention of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act. He has been granted bail and is scheduled for a follow-up court appearance later in June pending further investigation.
The investigators believe that the R70 000 amount could be just a drop in the ocean. Anyone who might have fallen victim to Chauke is urged to contact Captain Etienne Storm on: 082 319 9956 or Warrant Officer Wietsche 079 886 3680. Information received will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
