Two women, aged 59 and 53, have been arrested in Strand, Western Cape, for allegedly defrauding around 80 people of nearly R2 million through a fake travel scheme.
According to police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie, the suspects lured victims with a social media advertisement promoting a trip to Thailand for R26,000 per person. The advertised trip never materialized, prompting victims to report the scam to police stations across Gauteng, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape.
“The advertisement directed each person to pay R26,000 into the suspects’ bank accounts,” Pojie explained. “When it became clear that the trip would not happen, victims filed complaints nationwide.”
The cases were subsequently centralized in the Western Cape for investigation.
“Following investigations, the suspects were questioned but failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the missing funds,” Pojie said.
The women were arrested at their Strand residences and face charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering. They are expected to appear in the Strand Magistrate’s Court soon.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant against scams and to verify the legitimacy of online offers before making payments.