A 27-year-old man, Yiga Siraje Lubega, and his alleged accomplice, Rhoda Betsey Mirembe, aged 32, have been remanded in custody by the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court in South Africa. The duo faces charges related to a dating scam that targeted a 39-year-old woman from Limpopo province, resulting in a financial loss exceeding 600,000 rands (26 million naira).
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, revealed that the victim randomly met Lubega in Polokwane in September. The 27-year-old, driving a white Mercedes-Benz, entered into a romantic relationship with the woman. Exploiting the newfound connection, Lubega allegedly convinced the victim to seek the assistance of a ‘prophetess’ to address her personal problems.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke, spokesperson for the Hawks in Limpopo, the victim engaged in prayers with Lubega and the so-called prophetess for about a week. During one session, the prophetess, identified as Mirembe, arrived in a BMW X6, claiming to have R4 million (N172 million) in cash for the victim. However, to access the money, the victim was told she needed to pay 10 percent of the total amount.
The 39-year-old woman, lacking the funds, applied for a loan of R650,000 (N30 million) and handed it over to Mirembe. Subsequently, both Lubega and Mirembe became unreachable. The victim later discovered that her personal details were fraudulently used in a property rental transaction for a luxury house at Woodhill Estate in Polokwane.
Upon investigation, the Hawks seized two vehicles, the white Mercedes-Benz and the BMW X6, previously used by the suspects. Further coordination led to the arrest of Lubega and Mirembe when another Mercedes-Benz associated with Lubega was spotted in Potchefstroom in the North West province.
The suspects appeared in court on Thursday and were remanded in custody until the following Monday for a formal bail application. The Hawks emphasized that such dating scams have become frequent, advising potential victims, particularly well-to-do single or widowed women, to exercise caution and be wary of scammers who exploit relationships for financial gain.
According to the Hawks, scammers often target women with stable jobs, those recently divorced or with acquired assets, women in business, those inheriting wealth, those approaching retirement, and widows. The warning underscores the need for vigilance in the face of increasing instances of fraud and dating scams reported to law enforcement agencies.
