Woman arrested over R200,000 property auction scam in North West
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A 32-year-old woman has appeared in the Klerksdorp magistrate's court over a property auction scam in which a buyer was allegedly defrauded of more than R200,000, prompting a police warning to verify auctioneers and payment details.
A 32-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with a property auction scam in which a woman was allegedly defrauded of more than R200,000 in South Africa's North West province.
Rebotile Ankie Mohlolo appeared in the Klerksdorp magistrate's court on Tuesday after her arrest by the North West commercial crime investigation unit.
Police said the complainant responded to an advertisement for the auction of a house in Randlespark. After making contact using the number provided in the advertisement, she was allegedly sent documents to complete and was told she could purchase the property, then instructed to pay a R23,000 deposit.
She was later given an invoice for the remaining amount, which included attorney's fees, bringing the total to more than R200,000, and she allegedly made the payments as instructed. She was told the property would be registered in her name within about 10 days, but after that period she was unable to reach the people she had been dealing with.
Police said she went to the premises of the claimed law firm or estate agency and discovered the offices did not exist, and that the people occupying the premises had no knowledge of the company. That was when she realised she had fallen victim to alleged fraud.
Mohlolo was charged with fraud and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. She was granted R4,000 bail and the case was postponed to October 20. North West police commissioner Lieutenant-General Arthur Peter Adams warned the public to be careful when responding to property auction advertisements. "Potential buyers must verify the legitimacy of auctioneers and estate agents, and the payment details provided to them, before handing over any money," he said.