Thohoyandou, Limpopo -
Four men were arrested for defrauding pensioners in Thohoyandou, Limpopo police said on Saturday.
At least ten elderly people have opened cases after losing more than R70 000 to the alleged fraudsters, Major Mashudu Malelo said.
“The suspects would wait for pensioners to walk out of banks, approach them and tell them they have been smeared with muti and offer to help.”
The men would offer to drive them to police stations.
“The victims would then be told to put their money in envelopes so that the muti could not take effect.”
The envelopes would then be switched with ones containing pieces of paper before the victims were dropped by the side of the road.
Malelo said the victims were tricked into believing that the envelopes contained their “safe” cash, only to find pieces of paper.
He said there were plans to approach the organised crime unit to investigate whether bank tellers were not in cahoots with the fraudsters.
The men, aged between 24 and 35 are expected to appear in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's court on Monday. - Sapa