Lentswe, Klerksdorp - Last week, the NW Hawks arrested a Johannesburg businesswoman for her alleged involvement in defrauding an unsuspecting Jouberton woman of R600 000 in a romance scam. The money was traced to a business account belonging to Caroline Diana Sserufusa (37). She appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court sitting in Klerksdorp, on charges of fraud and money laundering on Wednesday October 9.
WO Amogelang Malwetse, spokesperson for the Hawks in North West, said in June 2023, a 47-year-old woman who is the complainant in the case, allegedly met and dated a Nigerian man only known to her as Chris.
The name of the scammed woman, aged 47, is withheld in an effort to protect her from victimization.
“After a few weeks of dating, the man reportedly advised her to resign from work, claim her pension funds, and give it to him. The victim allegedly complied, and in July 2023, she received a pension payout of R634 169,” said Malwetse.
After receiving her pension payout, the 47-year-old woman informed her boyfriend, Chris. A Hawks report indicates that Chris went to the victim’s house in Jouberton and asked for the woman’s banking app login details.
She gave him the login details, and Chris used the banking app to transfer an amount of R610 000 into a bank account which was unknown to his lover. That was the last time she saw Chris.
“The matter was referred to the Klerksdorp-based Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation unit for further investigation. An investigation revealed that the money was transferred to a business account called TNH Collection and General Trading (Pty) LTD, whose sole director is Caroline Diana Sserufusa,” said Malwetse.
On Monday October 7, Sserufusa was arrested in Johannesburg. She was granted R8 000 bail when she appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court sitting in Klerksdorp.
The case was postponed to October 25 for legal representation.
