Police crack case of 419 scammers who kidnapped American citizen

The South African Police Force's Hawks unit on Saturday arrested four people who are implicated in a 419 scam that saw a US citizen held hostage for almost a month between April and May this year.

The four - 3 Nigerian males and one South African woman are expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates court tomorrow morning (31-05-2010).

Police believe the four lured the US citizen with a promise that she had won $1.06-million (R8-million). The scam started in April last year and between then and July last year, they fleeced $60 000 from her. After July, the communication went cold until they approached her again in April this year.

This time she was assured that just her signature was enough but she had to come to South Africa in person to claim her prize. She was instructed to bring $2000.

She duly came and on arrival on April 15 they took her hostage from the airport and kept her in a house Albertsdal,  Alberton for well over a month. She was fed once a day while in captivity.

She was rescued by the police on May 22 after she managed to free herself and broke the window of the room she was kept hostage and alert her neighbours who in turn called authorities. Intensive investigations were conducted by the Johannesburg Hawks unit working alongside crime intelligence colleagues.

She has since gone back to the US.

Police also discovered a number of items belonging to her in the house in Kibler Park where the four lived. These items were confiscated including computers, cellphones and a number of other exhibits that police believe strengthen the case against the four.

Statement issued by Musa Zondi, South African Police Service, May 31 2010

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