By Thokozani Mazibuko
A bold group of alleged female scammers, accused of duping the public and embezzling over E150,000, made their initial court appearance before Manzini Senior Magistrate Florence Msibi.
The suspects, largely hailing from the Mbadlane area, faced multiple charges, including theft by false pretences and money laundering.
Among the five individuals appearing in court were Nobuhle Zwane (18) and Bongiwe Dlamini (36), along with their co-accused Nkhosephayo Dlamini (18), Ncamiso Tsabedze (26), and Phiwayinkhosi Gwebu (33).
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Each woman was charged with several counts related to alleged fraudulent activities conducted between May 2024 and October 2024.
Court records revealed a coordinated scheme in which the accused misrepresented themselves as experts capable of resolving technical issues, such as removing viruses from phones and bank accounts.
They allegedly deceived victims into believing they were assisting them, ultimately gaining access to their banking information and stealing significant amounts of money.
On Count 1, the court was informed that the accused misled Mzwandile Ndlangamandla into believing he had accidentally sent them E6,353.
In another case, the group allegedly defrauded Sebentile Simelane by convincing her of their ability to eliminate computer viruses, resulting in the theft of E134,084.16.
Additionally, the charges include money laundering, as the accused are believed to have knowingly utilized funds obtained through these fraudulent activities.
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The legal proceedings highlighted various instances of theft by false pretences, with amounts ranging from E681.00 taken from Lindelwa Vilakati to E350.00 from Alexina Sibandze, showcasing a widespread and systematic approach to their criminal operations.
In reaction to the charges, the suspects exhibited a range of emotions, with some appearing visibly distressed as the seriousness of their alleged actions was articulated in court.
Magistrate Florence Msibi emphasized the severity of the accusations and the necessity for comprehensive investigations.
This case has attracted considerable public attention, raising concerns regarding the effectiveness of existing measures to protect individuals from online scams and fraudulent activities.
As more information surfaces, community leaders have urged for increased public awareness and preventive strategies against such schemes.
The accused will remain in custody until their next court appearance on the 6th of November 2024, as investigations are ongoing and more witnesses are anticipated to testify against them.
These court proceedings underline a growing apprehension regarding cybercrime and highlight the urgent need for proactive measures to protect the public from deceptive practices that exploit trust for financial benefit.
