CT syndicate swindles container firms on the internet

A PROLIFIC syndicate operating around Philippi East pulled off the theft of shipping containers with just the use of personal computers and smartphones.

The syndicate targets companies in Durban who are in the business of renting out shipping containers.

Private investigator John Alexander from Royal Investigations was roped in by clients who lost their containers and has been on the trail of the syndicate.

He said the syndicate uses credentials from well-known companies in the bulk supply chain.

“The syndicate will provide this factitious documentation which will be subjected to the vetting process conducted by the supplier and once this is done, the supplier will issue the invoice.”

They then provide fake proof of payment and order the release of the containers.

“This whole operation is done from an internet café in Philippi and financed by the mastermind, whose identity is unknown to us.”

Once the containers are delivered to the premises, usually close to a cashand-carry, the henchmen or spotters will inform the mastermind, by which time they already have the crane truck lined up to move the container to a different location.

“They will employ another trucking company to transport the containers to the end buyers who are usually spaza shop owners.”

One of his clients lost 21 containers after falling victim of the syndicate.

Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity company found that South Africa is a playground for cybersecurity criminals. The country is ranked in the top 30 most targeted countries for malware attacks and top 20 for Covid-19-related email threats.

In October last year eight Nigerians, who include six leaders of a group called the Black Axe, a large transnational Nigerian syndicate, were arrested for internet scams, money laundering and international-wide scale financial fraud in Cape Town, in a joint operation that included the FBI.

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the FBI estimates that more than 100 people lost more than R100 million in romance scams since 2011.

“Alexander’s operation with the police managed to recover three stolen containers on January 20 (two in Delft and one in Philippi), each sold for R17 000. Two are still outstanding and towards the end of January we were informed that another 11 containers were acquired from a different company, which were subsequently stolen under the same pretences.”

They recovered five, three in Ottery, one in Gugulethu and one in Mfuleni.

This investigation led to the arrest of two suspects who were traced to an internet café in the area, where they were caught red-handed with compromising documents and three cellphones which implicated them.

He warned the general public to refrain from purchasing goods that are suspicious and treat all goods or products as suspected stolen goods.

“Those who unknowingly purchase goods that are later found to be stolen can be arrested for possession of stolen goods.”

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said the police were investigating the cases.

“Two suspects aged 34 and 36 were arrested and detained. Both made their court appearances in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on a charge of theft.”

| SUPPLIED SOME of the stolen shipping containers have been found.