An FNB manager has been arrested for allegedly stealing R4 million from the bank. Image via: Adobe Stock
Fraudsters hit with 40-year sentence after running bank scam
Three fraudsters have been hit with a LONG sentence over a bank scam they ran on unsuspecting victims.
An FNB manager has been arrested for allegedly stealing R4 million from the bank. Image via: Adobe Stock
Bank scams and the fraud around them is a big problem here at home and across the globe. If it isn’t the hundreds of fake emails asking for you to “log in” to your internet banking, it’s the dodgy SMSes. Thankfully, a bit of justice was finally delivered this week as a notorious trio were hit with a 40-year sentence.
Justice delayed: Key sentencing after spate of bank scams
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) is touting its successes after the Benoni Magistrate’s Court handed three men a collective sentence of 40 years.
The men defrauded over R50 000 from a woman’s bank account more than 10 years ago. The crime took place between October 2022 and September 2012. The problem? The court only found them guilty last year. On top of that, they were only sentenced on Wednesday this week.
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“Anthony Okwechuku Amu, Bongani Edgar Kwasa Leotlea, and Jabulani Malinga fraudulently intercepted an ABSA’s client’s bank account. They deactivated the cellphone to prevent messages from going through. They were arrested in September 2012 and charged with fraud after the investigation team found that the trio fraudulently transferred R55 000 into their Capitec bank account.”
Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu Hawks
The three men were found guilty on charges of money laundering in April 2021.
Bank fraud galore
That’s not the only big bank fraud news from this week. Firstly, this one wasn’t a bank scam. Secondly, it was certainly more of an inside job.
On Wednesday, the Hawks also arrested 30-year-old ABSA Sandton Specialist Engineer Xolela Masebeni. He’s accused of stealing R103 million rand. How? By allegedly transferring the money into six different bank accounts over several transactions. Similarly, these “fraudulent transfers” allegedly took place between September and December 2021.
