The Hawks have netted eight people for being involved in internet scams, money laundering and international financial fraud.

The suspects have been operating from Cape Town and had amongst others operated online dating scams that targeted widows and divorcees who were scammed out of their money.

The suspects used these dating apps to connect with their victims. They would gain their victims’ trust and then claim that they were in financial distress. Over a ten-year period, this scam alone saw them stealing R 100 million in total.

These foreign nationals reportedly have ties with a transnational organised crime syndicate that’s based overseas.

[Header image: SAPS]