Three individuals accused of defrauding a woman in a romance scam will appear again in court in Pretoria this Friday. Elijah Nweze (27), Nomathamsanqa Thabisa Asunha (49), and Penelope Dyasoni (28) were arrested last week in Cape Town’s Park View area on fraud and money laundering charges.
According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela, the suspects ran a fake dating site called “Singles 60.” The scam unraveled when a female victim realized she had been defrauded of approximately R900,000.
The victim believed she was dating a white American man named Ricardo Taylor, who allegedly worked at an oil refinery in Cape Town. Soon after starting their relationship, ‘Taylor’ began demanding money. The victim was asked to book accommodation and hire luxury items including a Ferrari and a helicopter for an upcoming meeting.
The woman transferred money into various bank accounts and also bought computer software, resulting in her losing close to R900,000.
The suspects remain in custody following their initial court appearance.
Brigadier Paulina Sekgobela, Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, praised the investigative team and warned the public against unknowingly aiding criminal activities.
