GEORGE NEWS - What started as a routine procedure as a local motorist was pulled over for drunk driving quickly spiralled into a frightening extortion attempt, leaving the victim shaken and unsure how the scammers had obtained his personal details.
The motorist (name withheld) thought he had faced the worst when he was pulled over in George for drunk driving at about 20:00 on 11 November.
Tested at the hospital and detained overnight, he was released at 04:00 with a court date set for March 2026.
A week later, he received a call from someone claiming to be a Sergeant Mulewa, using the number 078 178 7238. The caller claimed that the "preliminary" blood test results had returned, warning that the motorist would be arrested, fined at least R50 000 and stripped of his licence. To bolster credibility, the caller recited the motorist's full name and ID number.
The caller became abrasive and threatening when he was challenged. Sensing something was amiss, the motorist ended the call and contacted an advocate friend, who confirmed with the police that the incident matched an active scam investigation.
This was not an isolated incident. George Herald is aware of at least two other similar attempts.
In one, a suspect was told the police were on their way and asked for his location, after which he was pressured for a bribe - first R10 000, later reduced to R5 000 - which he refused.
In another case, reported more than a year ago, the scammer had access to the suspect's detailed personal information, including home addresses, family contacts and arrest records. That matter escalated to death threats and intimidation of relatives.
The Southern Cape Police's spokesperson, Sergeant Chris Spies, confirmed that several individuals arrested for drunk driving had reported being approached by a male suspect claiming to be a police officer using the surname Mulewa, requesting cash to halt criminal proceedings. Fraud cases have been registered, and the matter is being investigated by the Mossel Bay Detectives.
Spies stressed that the police would never contact suspects for payment to resolve criminal cases.
The public is urged to report any such incidents to their nearest police station, call Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or use the My SAPS app.
He added that his office cannot comment on matters relating to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks. Further enquiries pertaining to this matter have been directed to the Hawks' spokesperson, Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, but no comment had been received by the time of going to press.
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