Woman Conned By USA Facebook Friend: Phoenix – KZN

A 39-year-old Phoenix – Kwazulu Natal woman who accepted a Facebook friend request from a man identifying himself as Spencer Larch from Austin – Texas in the United States of America has been conned out of several thousand Rands on Saturday 7/08/2021.

The married mother of a 15-year-old boy contacted Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) earlier today (Sunday) after she deposited R5000 in the suspects account. She informed Reaction Officers the earlier this year she had accepted a Facebook invite & accepted when she realized that they had mutual friends on social media. The man then began chatting to her privately on Messenger.

During a conversation, she shared her Watsapp number. Whilst chatting to him on a South African mobile number he offered her gifts, 1000US Dollars, Mobile Phones, shoes etc (see pictures and screengrab of chats). Upon his request, she borrowed and transferred R5000 into a First National Bank account at the Phoenix Plaza branch to clear the items. She then received a bill of R15 000 for penalties (picture 14) after an agent found 1000US Dollars in a jeans pocket. The woman intended to pay the R15 000 but contacted RUSA for assistance when she suspected that she had been conned. She further discovered the man could be a South African National and living locally.

Investigations are continuing.