Twenty-four people allegedly linked to a fraud syndicate operating from a makeshift call centre in Umhlanga have been arrested.
Image: Dasen Thathiah/ENCA
POLICE have arrested 24 suspects, including the alleged kingpin, in a major fraud operation linked to a call centre in uMhlanga.
The suspects face charges of fraud and theft following a victim's report of unauthorised bank withdrawals.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a provincial police spokesperson, said the suspects aged between 23 and 44 years old, would appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court soon.
“On Thursday, a 37-year-old man was defrauded of his money, with an undisclosed amount of cash withdrawn from his bank account without his consent. Investigations led the police to a house in uMhlanga, where the suspects were arrested. Thirty laptops and 25 cellphones were sized,” he added.
Colonel Boysie Zungu, spokesperson for the Durban Metropolitan Police Service (DMPS), said the operation stemmed from an investigation initiated following a fraud case reported at Durban North SAPS.
The intelligence-driven operation comprised members from DMPS’s Tactical Support Unit, Crime Intelligence, Metro Police Trio Crimes Unit, Metro Police K9 Unit, Umzinto TRT, Local Criminal Record Centre, Cyber Crime Unit, and investigators from various banking institutions.
“Through coordinated surveillance and intelligence gathering, law enforcement agencies identified a sophisticated criminal network operating from a makeshift call centre at a bed and breakfast establishment in uMhlanga.
“The suspects allegedly targeted unsuspecting members of the public by falsely claiming that their bank accounts had been compromised. Victims were then manipulated into transferring funds into accounts controlled by the syndicate, resulting in financial losses amounting to millions of rand,” said Zungu.
He said a total of 24 suspects were arrested, including key individuals believed to be central to the operation.
He said 14 women and 10 men, of which five foreign nationals formed part of the group that were arrested.
“A range of exhibits linked to the commission of the crime were seized, including mobile phones, laptops, desktop computers, hard drives, USB storage devices, and other electronic equipment. All suspects are currently detained and are expected to face charges related to fraud.
“This operation demonstrates the strength of integrated, intelligence-led policing and the continued commitment of the DMPS together with its law enforcement partners, to combat organised and cyber-related crime within the city.
“Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and not to share banking details or transfer funds based on unsolicited calls,” said Zungu.