The NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit has successfully frozen nine bank accounts containing approximately R21.55 million allegedly stolen from a Middelburg company through a sophisticated WhatsApp banking scam.

The unit obtained an urgent preservation order from the Middelburg High Court on 12 June, preventing the suspected proceeds of crime from being moved whilst forfeiture proceedings continue.

The scam began on 21 May when the financial manager at Middelburg-based company Jormid, received WhatsApp messages on her cellphone claiming to be from ABSA Bank. The messages warned of suspicious transactions on the company’s business account and requested confirmation of whether she had authorised them.

After she responded that she did not recognise the transactions, she received a telephone call from someone claiming to be an official from ABSA Bank’s Fraud Division. The caller requested her assistance in cancelling the alleged suspicious transactions.

During the call, the financial manager was instructed to approve electronic links sent to her phone. Whilst still communicating with the scammer, a colleague informed her that several substantial transactions totalling approximately R21.55 million had been processed from Jormid’s bank account without authorisation.

“The financial manager immediately reported the matter to ABSA’s Fraud Department and subsequently opened a criminal case with the South African Police Service in Middelburg,” NPA Regional Spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said.

The matter was referred to the Asset Forfeiture Unit, which initiated an investigation and submitted an urgent intervention request to the Financial Intelligence Centre. The centre promptly issued directives to ABSA Bank to freeze funds held in nine bank accounts suspected of receiving the stolen money.

“Armed with the evidence gathered during the investigation and the FIC’s intervention, the AFU approached the Middelburg High Court on an urgent ex parte basis and successfully obtained a preservation of property order against the nine ABSA Bank accounts,” Nyuswa explained.

The order prevents the dissipation of the suspected proceeds of crime, valued at approximately R21.55 million, pending the finalisation of forfeiture proceedings before the High Court.

A criminal investigation is ongoing, with suspects expected to be arrested and charged with offences including fraud, theft and money laundering.

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