A Gauteng man was kidnapped, stuffed in a boot and forced to watch as his bank accounts were drained of R77,000 in a Facebook Marketplace scam.
The 39-year-old man from Olievenhoutbosch, Centurion, whose name is withheld for safety reasons, responded to a car advert on Thursday last week.
How The Gauteng Man Was Kidnapped And Lost R77k
He planned to buy an Audi A4 for R54,000 but was instead ambushed by gunmen in Winterveldt, north of Pretoria, the following day.
The criminals forced him into the boot of a car and siphoned his insurance payout by making withdrawals and using cash-send services.
“I had R75,000 in my Standard Bank and R2,500 in my Capitec account. They transferred the R75,000 into my Capitec account. I heard them mentioning two people’s accounts, and then they also did a cash-send. I have learned the hard way, and this whole experience has traumatised me. Now I have nothing, the money is gone.” the victim told Sowetan.
The Facebook Marketplace Scam And Kidnapping Incident
The man had arranged to meet the supposed seller in Mabopane after his own car had been written off in an accident on 11 October. He was due to receive an insurance payout of R75,000 to replace it. Convinced the deal was legitimate, he travelled to Mabopane with his cousin after hearing a sob story from the seller, who claimed he needed the cash to bury his brother.
Gauteng Man Loses R77k In Facebook Marketplace Scam And Kidnapping Nightmare [Image: SowetanLIVE]
However, upon arrival, things took a dangerous turn. The seller connected the man with someone else, who led him to a remote location. There, three armed men ambushed the pair, stole their cellphones, and forced the victim into the boot. The assailant then accessed his banking apps, increasing his daily limit to clean out his accounts.
“I normally buy from the Facebook market because there are a lot of things that you can get from that platform. I would buy gadgets at a reasonable price, and you never know when something is a scam,” the shaken man said.
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Police Speak
The nightmare ended after just over an hour when Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) officers, responding to a tip-off from a resident, rescued the victims unharmed.
TMPD spokesperson Isaac Mahamba confirmed:
“Members responded swiftly to the complaint at a location where the suspects were holding the victim hostage, and two male victims were found and rescued unharmed,”
Mahamba confirmed that three suspects were arrested and charged with hijacking, kidnapping, and extortion. He also urged the public to exercise caution when making purchases through social media platforms.