Durban – A 34-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on 10 June 2026 after being served with a summons by the Hawks in connection with an alleged R3.29 million Range Rover fraud case.
According to the South African Police Service, members of the Hawks’ Durban Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit served the summons on Tuesday following an investigation into an alleged fraudulent vehicle purchase at Land Rover Hillcrest.
Police said the suspect allegedly contacted a sales representative on 1 June 2023 to purchase a new Range Rover Sport valued at more than R3.2 million, proposing a cash transaction.
The dealership reportedly prepared the sale documents and provided banking details for payment. The following day, the suspect allegedly submitted a fraudulent proof of payment purportedly from Investec Bank, claiming the transfer had been processed instantly and requesting immediate delivery of the luxury vehicle.
However, the dealership refused to release the vehicle until the funds reflected in the account. Investigators said no payment was ever received, and the suspect allegedly stopped responding to communication attempts.
Further verification with Investec reportedly confirmed that the proof of payment was fraudulent.
The case was initially opened at Hillcrest Police Station before being transferred to the Hawks for further investigation.
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks acting provincial head Zenobia Mulligan commended investigators for their work on the case.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
