Two accused convicted of theft in Facebook vehicle scam
Police have urged the public to exercise caution when responding to advertisements on social media platforms.
Two South African men, Cleopas Msipa, 51, and Tshepiso De Beer, 46, have been convicted and sentenced for theft following a Facebook vehicle scam scheme. The duo appeared in Stilfontein Regional Court on Tuesday, 29 September 2026 after pleading guilty to the charges. The court heard evidence revealing that victims, lured through vehicle and taxi advertisements, were deceived by men posing as police officers from Potchefstroom.
These victims were separated, questioned, and subsequently coerced into handing over money or transferring funds from their bank accounts. Police spokesperson Colonel Anne Magakoe stated that in some cases, bank cards were stolen to conduct transactions at taverns and other businesses. In March 2023, a collaboration between the Provincial Organised Crime Unit and Crime Intelligence led to the arrest of eight suspects.
Magakoe mentioned that further investigation linked these suspects to additional cases with a similar modus operandi. Cleopas Msipa and Tshepiso De Beer were each sentenced to six years' imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for five years. The remaining three accused cases were postponed to Wednesday, 21 October 2026, with the suspects remanded in custody for a new trial date.
North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Arthur Adams, commended Detective Constable Thabiso Pheela for his diligent investigative work, which linked the accused to the outstanding cases. The police have warned the public to exercise caution when responding to social media advertisements, particularly for high-value items, and advised verifying the legitimacy of sellers and transactions to avoid falling victim to such scams.
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