Police have launched a major operation at a property in Umhlanga, north of Durban, where an alleged illegal call centre linked to a sophisticated banking scam is being dismantled.
The raid follows a months-long crime intelligence investigation into a syndicate believed to have defrauded victims of millions of rand through telephonic scams. Authorities say the operation was carefully coordinated after evidence pointed to the property as a central hub for fraudulent activities.
Members from the South African Police Service (SAPS) eThekwini District, the Metro Police Special Operations Directorate, and the SAPS Tactical Response Team (TRT) entered the premises earlier today. Officials from several banks are also on site, assisting investigators in identifying affected accounts and tracing financial transactions.
Preliminary reports indicate that suspects posed as bank officials to trick victims into revealing sensitive information, enabling unauthorised withdrawals from their accounts. Several individuals have already been arrested, including foreign nationals believed to be part of the operation.
Police have cordoned off the area as the search continues, with more arrests expected. Seized equipment, including computers and mobile devices, is expected to provide further insight into the scale of the alleged fraud network.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid sharing personal banking details over the phone.
More details are expected to emerge.
Email: motshwari@onenews.co.za
