KAROO NEWS - Cradock Commercial Task Team commander, Warrant Officer Wessel Potgieter and a group of forensic investigators, today clamped down on a fraud syndicate operating between Beaufort West and Middelburg.
Four Pakistani nationals were arrested in Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg. About 55 credit cards to the value of about R1,7-million were found in their possession.
According to police, the syndicate operated in Graaff-Reinet, and a bank in Middelburg was used to execute their activities. The name of the bank is known to the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser.
"It is alleged that the four [suspects] recruited unemployed people in Beaufort West, with a promise of employment in Graaff-Reinet. They were transported in groups of five people and left at a house in Graaff-Reinet," said police spokesperson, Capt Lariane Jonker.
"The unemployed were then taken to the Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality in Graaff-Reinet, to get an address confirmation, and were supplied with three months' falsified pay sheets. The suspects then ordered them to open a credit card account of up to R35 000. The money was then allegedly withdrawn by the syndicate."
According to Jonker, more arrests are imminent, and the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser learned from a reliable source that the value of the fraud is also expected to be more.
The four suspects, aged between 24 and 44, will appear in the Middelburg Magistrate's Court soon.
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