A Mozambican male was apprehended after he attempted to con a female for the second time in three months.
Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were called out to the corner of Wick & Todd Street in the Verulam CBD – KZN at approximately 13:32 after receiving reports that a large crowd were threatening to assault a man.
On arrival, Reaction Officers met with a 57 year old female. She explained that the man had approached her in Durban Central – KZN in December 2022. He requested her assistance to make a call to his employer as he was unable to communicate in English. He communicated with her in iSiZulu.
The female made the call and was advised by the man’s employer that he needed to uplift a bar of Platinum valued at R900 000. His employer advised the businesswoman that he needed R9000 to pay his supplier and was willing to cut her in on the deal if she was willing to front the cash. The female was convinced that the deal was legitimate and paid the money after a few meetings. The suspect was not seen thereafter.
Today, while seated in her vehicle in the Verulam CBD, the same individual approached her and requested assistance to make a call to his employer. The female identified the man as one of the people who scammed her. She exited her vehicle and called out for assistance from the public.
The suspect fled on foot while being pursued by a large mob. He entered a home near the Verulam Recreational Grounds in Temple Valley to avoid detection but was apprehended. The crowd escorted him back to the complainant’s location.
Reaction Officers placed him under arrest and detained him at the Verulam SAPS.