THREE APPEAR IN COURT FOR FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING IN DATING SCAM
GAUTENG: Three suspects, Elijah Nweze (27), Nomathamsanqa Thabisa Asunha (49) and Cumisa Penelope Dyasoni (28) have appeared before Pretoria Magistrate Court on Monday, 14 July 2025 for fraud and money laundering.
The trio were arrested on Thursday, 10 July 2025 in Park View, Cape Town by members of the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation based in Pretoria. The arrest is as a result of a complaint received from a complainant alleging that she connected with a white male by the name of Ricardo Taylor who works at an oil refinery company in Cape Town, originally from the United States of America on a dating site called ‘Singles 60’.
The pair began dating online and Ricardo Taylor began extorting money from the victim for different reasons including, booking accommodation for the pair where they’ll meet, hiring a Ferrari and a helicopter for their holiday as well as for purchasing computer software resulting in the complainant suffering an actual loss of R900 000 which was paid by the victim into different bank accounts.
On Thursday, 10 July 2025 the trio where arrested and have appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate Court where the matter was postponed to Friday, 18 July 2025. The Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, Brigadier Paulina Sekgobela has commended the investigating team for apprehending the suspects and has cautioned members of public from being used as accessories in criminal activities.
