Two Nigerian men were arrested and the Swedish man they allegedly kidnapped was rescue unharmed in Johannesburg, police said on Wednesday.
Kenth Sadaaki Suzuki was apparently lured to South Africa by a group of Nigerians after he fell for the so-called 419 scam, police spokesperson senior Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo said.
The victim was made to believe he would be part of an investment opportunity with a company known as Jeffdon Properties.
"The men met their victim at 8am on Wednesday at the OR Tambo International Airport and transported him to a house in Rosettenville where they robbed him of all his belongings.
"They bound his hands and legs and held him against his will for the entire day."
Naidoo said the men then demanded a ransom of 20 000 euros (about R235 000) from his wife and family.
Head of the police's detective services Commissioner Rayman Lalla got a call from Sweden about the matter and jumped into action.
The perpetrators were tracked down and arrested and Suzuki was rescued unharmed.
The two had been linked to three other cases in which they allegedly kidnapped Americans as part of the same scam.
"They are also being investigated for their possible involvement in other cases."
The two would appear in the Kempton Park magistrate's court on charges of kidnapping, extortion, intimidation and assault on Monday. - Sapa