Two women, aged 59 and 53, have been arrested in Strand, South Africa, after allegedly defrauding 80 victims of R1.9 million by promising them dream holidays to Thailand. The arrests followed an extensive investigation, with police uncovering that the suspects had used social media to advertise the fake holiday package.
Between June 2022 and July 2024, the women claimed that for a fee of R26,000, each person would receive travel and accommodation to Thailand. The victims, eager to take part in the holiday offer, deposited the required amounts into the suspects’ bank accounts. However, as the trip never materialized, they realized they had been scammed and reported the incident to police stations across South Africa, including Gauteng, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape.
The cases were centralized in the Western Cape, where the suspects were interviewed. They failed to provide a satisfactory explanation of the missing funds. Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed that the investigation led to the women’s arrest.
One of the would-be victims, Yamnkela Mlokothi, 39, expressed relief after hearing about the arrests before she could send any money. “I tried to get a loan to pay them,but was rejected. After hearing about their arrest, I thanked God the loan was unsuccessful,” Mlokothi said.
The women, now facing charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering, will appear in the Strand Magistrate’s Court. Their arrest highlights the growing issue of travel scams, where fraudulent offers prey on people’s dreams of an affordable holiday.
