₦airaland Forum

Pretoria, South Africa – A woman in Pretoria is reeling after discovering the man she believed to be her online lover, “Mark Hermanus,” is actually Gabriel Okori, a 39-year-old Nigerian national. Okori now faces charges of fraud and theft after allegedly swindling the woman out of R3 million.

The Hawks, South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, apprehended Okori in Cape Town on Thursday, October 3rd. Their investigation revealed the woman met Okori, who posed as a white South African named Mark Hermanus, on Facebook. They exchanged phone numbers and began communicating via WhatsApp.

According to Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela, a Hawks spokesperson for Gauteng, Okori feigned a medical emergency for his son and repeatedly solicited funds from the woman to cover the supposed treatment. Despite his promises to repay her once the bills were settled, the woman never received a cent.

This incident highlights the growing problem of romance scams targeting South African women. Many victims, often the primary breadwinners in their families, are left financially devastated and emotionally scarred. Some, like a Gauteng mother who lost her R2.8 million pension lump sum in July, have even resorted to self-harm.

The woman in this case, whose identity is withheld for her protection, reported the scam to the Pretoria North SAPS. Similar to Nothando, a Gauteng woman who lost her pension to a supposed business venture with her online lover, the victim in this case never met Okori’s “son” despite a year-long relationship.

Okori’s first court appearance at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday resulted in a postponement until October 14th.

https://theafricadailypost.com/319484/news/crime/pretoria-court-remands-nigerian-in-r3-million-romance-scam/

39 years old if you know you know

Fake story. Cock and bull. Someone posed like a white South African. Then, they started chatting on WhatsApp. No video call for once. Then, all of a sudden, waaaaaaaa! 3 million Rands in the scammers account.

He somehow looks like hushpuppi.

theafricadailyp:
“Mark Hermanus,” is actually Gabriel Okunrin

Na dem

Gabriel Okori OKORO

👍 👌 🙆‍♂️

Sharingiscaring:
Fake story. Cock and bull. Someone posed like a white South African. Then, they started chatting on WhatsApp. No video call for once. Then, all of a sudden, waaaaaaaa! 3 million Rands in the scammers account.

when dem deal with u now u people will start shouting xenophobia

U don't know white trust people more n your people have abused that privilege a lot

See u blaming d victim instead of d criminal

Zhike these are d Nigerians comiting crime in south Africa, kill them using jungle justice

VeryWickedBro:
Na dem

na una go Dey shout xenophobia now after dem kill d criminal

Sad 😔

Soap wey Alfa cut for this guy don expire...

Maga eye don clear...

Na Hushpuppi treatment remain for this guy now.