ASSET FORFEITURE UNIT SECURES PRESERVATION ORDER IN ONLINE BANKING SCAM

he National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has successfully obtained an urgent preservation of property order in the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court sitting in Middelburg in terms of Section 38 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), Act 121 of 1998. The order was granted on Friday, 12 June 2026.

The order emanates from a sophisticated online banking scam in which approximately R21.55 million was fraudulently diverted from the bank account of a Middelburg-based company, Jormid.

On 21 May 2026, Jormid's financial manager, Mrs Jordaan, received WhatsApp messages on her cellphone purporting to be from the company's banking institution, ABSA Bank.

The messages indicated that "suspicious transactions" had been detected on Jormid's business account and requested her to confirm whether she had authorised them.

After responding that she did not recognise the transactions, Jordaan received a telephone call from an individual claiming to be an official from ABSA Bank's Fraud Division. The caller requested her assistance in cancelling the alleged suspicious transactions.

During the call, Jordaan was instructed to approve several electronic links sent to her cellphone.

While still communicating with the scammer, Jordaan was informed by a colleague that several substantial transactions, amounting to approximately R21.55 million, had been processed from Jormid's bank account without authorisation.

Jordaan immediately reported the matter to ABSA's Fraud Department and subsequently opened a criminal case with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Middelburg.

On 29 May 2026, the matter was referred to the NPA's Asset Forfeiture Unit in Mpumalanga, which promptly initiated a financial investigation and sought the intervention of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC).

The AFU submitted an urgent intervention request to the FIC. Following its investigation, the FIC issued immediate directives to ABSA Bank to freeze funds held in nine bank accounts suspected of receiving the proceeds of the fraud.

Armed with the evidence gathered during the investigation and the FIC's intervention, the AFU approached the Middelburg High Court on an urgent ex parte basis and successfully obtained a preservation of property order against the nine ABSA Bank accounts on 12 June 2026.

The order prevents the dissipation of the suspected proceeds of crime, valued at approximately R21.55 million, pending the finalisation of forfeiture proceedings before the High Court.

The criminal investigation is ongoing. The suspected perpetrators are expected to be arrested and charged with offences including fraud, theft, and money laundering.

The NPA remains committed to combating cybercrime, safeguarding the interests of victims, and ensuring that the proceeds of unlawful activities are preserved and ultimately forfeited in accordance with the law.

ENDS

Issued by:

Monica Nyuswa

Regional Spokesperson

National Prosecuting Authority – Mpumalanga Division