Mmakgomo Doris Ngcobo, 42, from South Africa, has been arrested for her involvement in a multi-million rand romance scam that defrauded several women out of R2 million. Ngcobo appeared before the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Ekurhuleni, facing multiple fraud charges connected to a scam where unsuspecting women were tricked into taking out cash loans to finance fake relationships with men allegedly from Uganda.
Known to her victims as “Lebo” or “Linky,” Ngcobo is accused of acting as a “consultant” in the scam, driving the women to banks where they were persuaded to take out large loans, all of which were handed over to the scammers. Ngcobo is alleged to have been connected to staff at the banks, facilitating the loan approvals. The women, who were unaware of the fraud, found themselves heavily indebted and blacklisted by financial institutions.
Ngcobo’s arrest followed an investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), which had been tracking her for several years. She was apprehended in connection with three separate cases where women lost R650,000, R250,000, and R1 million.
The scam typically involved the victims being introduced to men pretending to be their romantic partners, who later claimed to be from wealthy families. The women were convinced to take out loans under the false promise of shared wealth and family connections, only for the money to be stolen by the scammers.
One of the victims, identified as Sbongile Dlamini, spoke to the media about her experience, recounting how she was introduced to Ngcobo, who drove her to various banks where the loans were approved with ease. Dlamini recalled how Ngcobo appeared wealthy, driving a BMW and wearing designer labels. She played a central role in facilitating the loans and transferring the money to the scammers.
The Hawks’ investigation continues as they believe Ngcobo may be part of a larger network involved in similar romance scams. The unit has previously had success in arresting scammers operating in South Africa, and they have urged anyone with information about such scams to come forward.
The series of scams has left many women emotionally traumatized and financially devastated, with some victims reportedly contemplating or committing suicide due to the severe consequences of the fraud. The Hawks continue their efforts to dismantle such syndicates and bring the perpetrators to justice.