A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Strand for allegedly impersonating a US government official in a Facebook scam. The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Team traced the suspect after a victim lost R85,800 in December 2022.
The scammer, originally from the Free State, contacted the victim via email, offering a fake COVID-19 relief grant in exchange for an upfront deposit. To appear credible, he included a fabricated list of beneficiaries and even posed as the victim’s friend on Facebook after hacking the account.
The suspect faces fraud and money laundering charges and is set to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court. Authorities warn the public to verify online grant offers and avoid sharing personal or financial details with unverified sources.
