Former cops held for jobs scam

Two former police detectives were arrested for a jobs scam in Welkom which saw several desperate workseekers conned out of thousands.

|||

Welkom – Two former police detectives were arrested on Tuesday in connection with a jobs scam in Welkom which saw several desperate workseekers conned out of thousands of rands, Free State police said.

The suspects, who had previously been dismissed from the SA Police Service for engaging in corrupt activities, were allegedly part of an operation in which the unemployed were targetted through social media.

Jobs for a basic ambulance assistant at the St. Helena hospital in Welkom were placed on the social networking sites to lure women, six of whom have opened cases with police.

The women were charged R6 000 each to apply for the job.

“The six victims came from different places like Focheville, Odendaalsrus, Vaal Reefs, Stilfontein, Klerksdorp, Atteridgeville, and George in Western Cape,” police spokesman Stephen Thakeng said.

“The victims will realise that they were scammed when they arrived at St.Helena hospital premises in Welkom to report for an interview, then the real employees of the hospital will explain that they were cheated.”

Welkom police and members of the Hawks set up a sting operation, posing as one of the job seekers.

“The two suspects were cornered at one of the chain stores in Welkom CBD, as they were supposed to collect cash that amounted to R6 000 from the ‘victim’,” said Thakeng.

“Then the two suspects were arrested by a team of investigators and the Hawks in Welkom. “

The two, both 28 years of age, were expected to appear in court on Wednesday.

African News Agency

* E-mail your opinion to IOLletters@inl.co.za and we will consider it for publication or use our Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.