North West Romance Scams: Women Fall Victim to Phantom Lover

In a tale of heartbreak and deception, two women from the North West province of South Africa have found themselves entrapped in a fraudulent web spun by a man they knew as Kareem, a supposed Ghanaian national. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is currently investigating the dual cases of fraud that have left these women both emotionally and financially scathed.

Kareem, who reportedly glided around town in a sleek black Jeep Grand Cherokee, cultivated relationships with both victims before persuading them to part with significant sums of money. Sithembile and Sthembeni (not their real names), gainfully employed single mothers, were lured in by proclamations of love, the alluring prospect of dream marriages, and the deceitful use of cultural rituals promising wealth and prosperity.

In a callous ploy, Kareem induced Sithembile to resign from her job at the Rustenburg mines, swaying her to give him R170,000 with false promises of repayment with interest. Sthembeni, on the other hand, met this modern-day Casanova at a shopping mall and soon found herself handing over her life savings of R60,000 to him. Just like a mirage, Kareem vanished, leaving the bereft women in financial ruin and with a trail of broken promises.

The cases, having come to light in March 2024, exemplify the rising trend of romance scams in South Africa. These cruel deceptions prey on vulnerable individuals seeking companionship, only to find themselves exploited by those they believed to be their partners.

In an unfortunate corollary, SAPS has revealed that another case involving a member of the police force occurred earlier this month. A police captain was conned out of almost R3 million by a Ugandan national who also played the love card before making a disappearing act. This elaborate swindle further underscores the meticulous and premeditated tactics employed by romance scammers.

As the SAPS circulates Kareem's image in an attempt to apprehend him, the incidents serve as a solemn reminder of the perils that come with online courtships and the vital importance of remaining cautious when forming relationships with people met through unconventional mediums.

The public is urged to be vigilant and to report any information that may lead to the capture of these conniving swindlers. The toll romance frauds take extends beyond the individual victims, affecting families and communities at large, as trust and financial security are undermined.