South african internet dating scams

Your hot date may be a hotline to becoming a scam victim

Eight suspected members of an international crime consortium have been arrested in South Africa, and accused of participating in money laundering schemes, financial fraud, and internet-based romance scams. The men, who all hail from Nigeria and are aged between 33 and 52 years old, were arrested during raids in Cape Town by the Hawks, the elite division of the South African police which targets organised crime. Law enforcement agencies believe that the men found their intended victims via dating sites, and made contact using false identities. Their victims, typically elderly widows or divorcees, believed that they were in a genuine romantic relationship - but were actually being duped with sob stories into handing over sometimes large sums of money. Although the police did not mention it by name, according to local media reports , the men are believed to be members of the Black Axe organised crime group which is often involved in prostitution, human and narcotics trafficking, as well as cybercrime. The arrests in South Africa come less than a month after dozens of suspected Black Axe operatives were rounded up in Texas , and accused of similarly preying on elderly victims via dating websites and engaging in Business Email Compromise attacks against organisations.

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It also reports that online dating scams are used by fraudsters to launder the illicit proceeds of crime. In , eight suspects were arrested in Cape Town in connection with an online dating scam and stealing more than R million from victims in various countries. When visiting online dating platforms, be aware of photos that look too good to be true.

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A year-old teacher in Polokwane has been scammed of more than R, of her pension money in an alleged dating scam. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Hawks has warned women about the rapid increase in dating scam incidents in Limpopo.

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Online romance scams: Research reveals scammers’ tactics – and how to defend against them

Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning. Catfishing, sextortion, phishing and other romance scams are big business for fraudsters. According to the South African Banking Risk Information Centre Sabric , some terror groups have been targeting South Africans to finance their criminal acts through romance scams. It also reports that online dating scams are used by fraudsters to launder the illicit proceeds of crime. In , eight suspects were arrested in Cape Town in connection with an online dating scam and stealing more than Rmillion from victims in various countries.

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