A trio of suspected romance swindlers appeared in the Muizenberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for their alleged role in defrauding an elderly woman of over R14 million through a deceptive romance scheme.
Asanda Dwesini, 39, Nomphelo Fetman, 32, and Shan Gabrelle Lewis, 47, made a brief court appearance after they were simultaneously arrested by the Bellville Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, together with the National Intervention Unit (NIU) on Thursday.
Romance Scam Details
The swindling operation exploited an elderly woman between 2017 and 2018, as confirmed by Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani. The scheme involved creating a fake profile on a dating website to manipulate the victim into giving the criminal money.
According to Hani, the fraudsters gained the victim’s trust and built a relationship with her, making everything about the romance feel normal, but the aim was to extort her. The alleged lover lured the victim by using flirtatious language, making her believe that they were in a genuine relationship.
Warning Signs of Romance Scams
The Western Cape Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Mathipa Makgato, has sensitised the public to be cautious before involving themselves in questionable transactions. If they are uncertain, they should refrain from doing so. Makgato further said “it is okay to reject or ignore any requests”. As criminals will often try to rush or make you panic.
Some common warning signs of romance scams include:
- Being asked for money or financial information
- Receiving suspicious or urgent requests
- Being rushed into a relationship or commitment
If you believe you have fallen for a scam, you should contact your bank immediately and report it to the nearest authorities, as advised by the South African Police Service.
The matter against the trio was remanded to March 26, 2026, for bail information.
