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An alleged scammer and his accomplice are expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrates Court on Thursday following their arrest this week.
A police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke says the 27-year-old man and his 32-year-old accomplice, who claims to be a prophetess, allegedly duped a woman out of R650 000.
He says it was during September this year when the victim randomly met the suspect, who was driving a white Mercedes Benz.
The couple started dating and soon the victim started sharing her problems with the suspect.
Maluleke says he promised to hook her up with a spiritual leader who would cast away all her problems.
He says the couple attended prayer meetings with the 'prophetess' for about a week, when one day, she arrived at the session driving a BMW X6 carrying a bag containing R4 million in hard cash.
The victim was told that the money was from her ancestors and she was told to pay 10% of the total to get the rest.
Lt Col Maluleke says the victim did not have money but rushed to the bank and applied for a loan of R650 000, which she handed over to the woman.
He says after a while the victim tried to contact both suspects but they were not reachable.
During this time she received a phone call from a property rental agent in Polokwane enquiring about a luxury house she rented at Woodhill Estate.
Maluleke says as the victim had never rented such a place, she discovered that her personal details were fraudulently used.
A case was opened with the Hawks, who tracked down the two vehicles parked in an open garage on 27 November at Woodhill Estate.
On Tuesday, the Hawks received info that the suspects were spotted in the Mercedes Benz driving around Potchefstroom in the North West Province.
Officers followed the vehicle and arrested both.
Maluleke says there are similar cases under investigation and considers the arrests a breakthrough in their ongoing investigations.
More arrests will be made.
