In a concerning incident in Polokwane, a 60-year-old teacher has fallen victim to an alleged dating scam, losing over R800,000 of her hard-earned pension money. 
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The Hawks, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, have issued a warning about the rising number of dating scam cases in Limpopo.

Hawks spokesperson Lt-Col Matimba Maluleke said according to the teacher who was employed by the Limpopo education department, she met the suspect at a shopping complex in Polokwane at the beginning of the year.

“The suspect allegedly proposed love to the victim, who was due for retirement at the age of 60 in June this year. The victim alleged that while waiting for her pension payout in September, she visited the suspect at his rented house in Ivy Park,” said Maluleke.

She alleged she was taken to a room in the house by the suspect so that she could be introduced to her ancestors.

“While inside the room, the victim alleged she heard a voice telling her she had been suffering for a very long time, but her suffering was over as there was R3.8m waiting for her,” he said.

The suspect continuously urged her to redeem this supposed windfall, and she ultimately paid him R800,000. However, suspicion arose when she returned to his home and found that he had vanished, leaving his belongings in a moving truck.

“When she inquired with neighbors about his whereabouts, they told her the suspect came with a moving truck, took his stuff, and left,” said Maluleke.

The Hawks have seen a surge in dating scam fraud cases, primarily targeting well-off single and widowed women. These scammers employ various tactics, including convincing victims to resign from stable jobs, register assets under their names, invest in fake business proposals, or exploit inherited wealth.

Victims often include women about to retire or widows. He said many dating scam frauds are reported to the Hawks. He advised potential victims, particularly well-off single and widowed women, to be careful.

Maluleke also advised people and gave a list of scammers’ targets, he believes they are:

• Women with stable jobs (they convince them to resign).
• Women who are recently divorced and have acquired assets (they convince them to register assets under their names or sell them).
• Women who are in business (they come up with fake business proposals that need funding).
• Women who have inherited wealth.
• Women who are about to retire.
• Women who are widows.

This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder to exercise caution, especially for those who find themselves in similar situations. It underscores the importance of being vigilant and aware of the risks associated with online dating and romantic encounters.

The Hawks have advised potential victims to be on their guard and to report any suspicious activity. With the growing prevalence of dating scams, it’s crucial to stay informed and protect oneself from falling victim to such fraudulent schemes. 
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