Photo: Pixabay
Photo: Pixabay
An estate agent who is accused of brokering fraudulent deals to the value of R1.2 million for properties in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) over a two year period has been arrested.
The woman, a 39-year-old former employee of a reputable estate agency in Effingham, was led away in handcuffs on Monday 29 June after her spree of fraud finally caught up with her.
Woman arrested on six counts of fraud
The woman – who cannot be named as she is yet to make her first court appearance – was accused by six different people of having falsely advertised flats for sale, after which she would demand a security deposit be paid into her account and vanishing into thin air.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said that the woman was arrested on multiple counts of fraud, with the incidents having taken place between September 2018 and October 2019.
“Police officers from the Provincial Commercial Crime Investigation Unit finally nabbed a 39-year-old woman for multiple counts of fraud. She is expected to appear at the Durban Magistrate’s Court tomorrow on six counts of fraud. The suspect was arrested yesterday at Effingham in Durban,” she said.
“Her arrest came after a number of people opened cases of fraud after they were defrauded to the tune of R1.2 million. It is alleged that between September 2018 and October 2019, the suspect would falsely advertise flats for sale.”
Estate agent’s victims parted with security deposits
Gwala said that the woman operated in the Lamontville, Berea, Umbilo, KwaMakhutha and Isipingo areas, and would prepare fake contracts that promised to sign over the dream apartments to unwitting victims of the scam.
“Her modus operandi was to request them to deposit large sums of cash into her bank account in order to secure a flat,” she said.
“She would prepare false contract documents to be signed by the applicants.”
