Two inmates at a Cape Town prison have been arrested on charges of extortion and fraud.
Story Summary:
- Two Cape Town inmates, aged 23 and 24, were arrested for extortion and fraud conducted from within prison.
- They operated a fake Facebook account using their victim’s identity to sell non-existent products.
- Western Cape authorities have emphasised the ongoing fight against organised crime and have launched a hotline to report extortion incidents.
Two Cape Town prison inmates arrested for extortion and Facebook fraud
In a statement, Cape Town police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg revealed that Provincial Organised Crime Detectives uncovered the scheme, which involved the inmates holding a victim “captive” by demanding weekly “protection fees.”
Beyond extorting their initial victim, the inmates used the individual’s identity to create a fake Facebook account, allegedly scamming other unsuspecting buyers by selling non-existent products.
The extent to which the pair were able to operate their scheme has raised questions about security measures and monitoring in South African correctional facilities, bringing to mind the high-profile case of Thabo Bester, who ran extensive scams from within prison.
Like Bester, these inmates leveraged their remote access to digital tools to facilitate further criminal activity.
“The two suspects aged 23 and 24 appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates’ court on Friday, 25 October 2024 and were remanded in custody,” Sgt Twigg confirmed.
This case arrives amid ongoing efforts by Western Cape authorities to combat organised crime, specifically extortion and firearm offences.
Provincial police urged the public to report incidents through the Western Cape Extortion Hotline, stressing that community involvement can play a key role in addressing this surge in extortion and fraud cases.
“We appeal to the public to report extortion related incidents on the Western Cape Extortion Hotline on 0800 31 4444 so that these incidents can be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators be brought to book,” the police urged.
