The Asset Forfeiture Unit has secured a provisional restraint order worth R43,9 million against suspects allegedly linked to an international call centre scam that defrauded victims in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and other countries.

The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg granted the order on 26 February, following the arrest of suspects on 27 January. The accused allegedly operated bogus call centre agencies in Bryanston, Johannesburg.

The restrained assets include multiple high-value properties across Gauteng, some valued at over R3 million, as well as luxury vehicles including a Mercedes-Benz A45S AMG, Aston Martin DB9, Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI, Toyota Fortuner, Jaguar E-Pace, Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.

On 14 April 2024, sheriffs of the court, Asset Forfeiture Unit representatives, members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and appointed auctioneers executed the provisional restraint order at various addresses in Gauteng. The auctioneers took possession of motor vehicles to be stored pending finalisation of the criminal case and a possible confiscation application.

According to evidence before the court, an international Israeli syndicate operated call centres from which agents enticed members of the public to invest in non-existing products with promises of returns on their investments.

Call centre agents contacted people who responded to false advertisements posted on the internet, commonly referred to as clickbait. Evidence shows that agents targeted vulnerable individuals, groomed them and misrepresented investment opportunities and returns.

The criminal case remains before the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court and has been postponed to 4 June for further investigation.

The Asset Forfeiture Unit, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and the National Prosecuting Authority’s Specialised Commercial Crime Unit worked together on the case.

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