Gauteng fraudster nabbed in Mount Edgecombe

A female wanted for Fraud, Uttering & Theft of Motor Vehicle was arrested in an Operation between Reaction Unit South
Africa (RUSA), SAPS Detectives and Wesbank Forensic Division this afternoon (Tuesday 2024/06/18).

The RUSA Operations Center received a call from Detectives at South African Police Services (SAPS) at Verulam – Kwazulu Natal requesting support to observe & arrest a female fraudster and her accomplices. The woman was sought for multiple criminal cases in several provinces in South Africa. Her modus operandi was to use fictitious documents & stolen identity cards and unlawfully and intentionally apply for finances at car dealerships.

She would sign these documents and receive the release note. She would then produce this note & drive off in brand new vehicles. The vehicles are later removed from the NATIS System & were never recovered. The woman was also wanted after she drove off from a KZN Car Dealership in a brand new Ford Ranger Double Cab valued at R600 000

Reaction Officers & Detectives kept observation and noticed the woman use a Bolt Service vehicle to enter a dealership in Mt. Edgecombe- KZN to sign and uplift a new bakkie. She then signed the documents using a fake identity card that she produced to the finance office. Officers enter the building and arrested her. Fictitious documents where recovered in her possession.

During an interview the woman informed Officers that she resided in Gauteng. She explained that she worked for a Specialised Police Unit in Johannesburg & was acting on their instructions to assist in apprehending fraud suspects. She provided names of Police Officers in Gauteng who had sent her to collect these vehicles. It was established that the names provided did not exist.

The woman was restrained and taken into custody.