R3 million ‘Mark Hermanus’ online dating scam: third suspect arrested by Hawks

A third suspect has been implicated in an online dating scam that saw a woman lose R3 million in the name of fictitious love, back in 2024.

The victim said she developed an online relationship with what she thought was a white male called Mark Hermanus, whom she met on Facebook, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.

After exchanging numbers, she and the alleged scammer started chatting on WhatsApp, and once they had “gotten to know each other”, he asked her to lend him money to pay the medical bills of his sick son.

But these weren’t modest medical bills, and the complainant eventually parted with R3 million, which was deposited into two bank accounts.

After the crime was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, an investigation ensued and the first suspect was arrested in Cape Town in October 2024. This alleged perpetrator, a Nigerian national, was granted bail of R5,000.

The second suspect was arrested in March 2025 in Orange Farm, Johannesburg, and he was granted bail of R1,000 by the Pretoria Magistrates Court.

The third suspect, arrested on Monday, June 23, is expected to appear before the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Wednesday, June 25.

According to the SAPS, the bank accounts which the victim deposited money into, belonged to the second and third suspects.

The Hawks’ Gauteng head, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, commended the “meticulous investigation” conducted by the team, and cautioned members of the public to be vigilant and safeguard themselves against such scams.

Since last year, IOL has been running the scammed series where several women and men have lost their hard-earned money including pensions and bank loans through romance scams. The victims have regrouped and are knocking on different doors, demanding answers.

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