A scam being run out of a correctional facility was blown wide open last week when the National Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit arrested two suspects, aged 44 and 24 years that conned unsuspecting law-abiding citizens out of their hard-earned cash.
The National Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit began the investigation in July 2017 after it received complaints via our toll-free Crime Stop number, 086 00 10111, regarding an alleged scam whereby con-artists were contacting different police stations posing as senior police officers.
The suspects are alleged to have obtained information about complainants and suspects of criminal cases, mostly in respect of car-jackings and theft of motor vehicle and they would use the information to extort money from their victims. Details as to how and from where the suspects have been obtaining such information also forms part of an investigation.
The suspects would then contact crime victims, inform them that their vehicles have been recovered and advise that the victim must deposit certain amounts of money through e-wallet/money market to get their vehicles back. In cases of arrested persons, these two suspects are alleged to have contacted next of kin for the arrested persons to also solicit money.
The SAPS National Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit, through its investigation, discovered that the suspects have been scamming people in the provinces of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape.
The two suspects were subsequently arrested in a Pretoria correctional facility. During the operation, suspects were found in possession of cell phones which they used to contact victims during commission of the crime.
The suspects, Lucas Masemola (44) from Soshanguve and Tebogo Makena (24) from Mamelodi West, have since appeared before Kempton Park regional court on Tuesday 14th of November 2017, facing charges of Extortion, Fraud, Theft, Defeating the ends of justice and impersonating police officers. They were remanded in custody until 4th of December 2017 for further investigation.
Community members are urged to come forward with any information in relation to this scam or might have been a victim of the scam. Captain Kwena Sefaamela on cell phone number 071 361 9419
