Three suspects appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 14 July 2025, facing charges of fraud and money laundering in connection with an elaborate online dating scam.
The accused—identified as Elijah Nweze (27), Nomathamsanqa Thabisa Asunha (49), and Cumisa Penelope Dyasoni (28)—were arrested on Thursday, 10 July 2025, in Park View, Cape Town, by members of the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit based in Pretoria.
The investigation was launched following a complaint from a victim who alleged that she was defrauded of R900,000 after connecting with a man named Ricardo Taylor on the dating site Singles 60. The suspect, who claimed to be a white male from the United States working at an oil refinery in Cape Town, allegedly began extorting money under various pretexts after establishing an online relationship.
According to the complaint, the suspect requested funds for booking accommodation, hiring a Ferrari and a helicopter for a planned holiday, and purchasing computer software. The victim deposited a total of R900,000 into different bank accounts before realizing the scam.
The trio was arrested and subsequently appeared in court, where the case was postponed to Friday, 18 July 2025, for further investigation.
