Court Freezes R21.5 Million Linked to Online Banking Scam

During the conversation, Jordaan was instructed to approve electronic links sent to her cellphone, allegedly to stop the suspicious transactions from being processed.

The National Prosecuting Authority's Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has secured an urgent court order to preserve approximately R21.55 million allegedly stolen in a sophisticated online banking scam targeting a Middelburg-based company. The funds were reportedly transferred from the bank account of Jormid after scammers convinced a company employee that suspicious activity had been detected on the business account.

Fraudsters Posed as Bank Officials

According to NPA Regional Spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, the incident began on 21 May 2026 when Jormid's financial manager, Mrs Jordaan, received WhatsApp messages appearing to come from ABSA Bank. The messages warned of suspicious transactions on the company's account and asked whether she had authorised them. After replying that she was unaware of the transactions, she received a phone call from a person claiming to be an official from the bank's fraud division.

During the conversation, Jordaan was instructed to approve electronic links sent to her cellphone, allegedly to stop the suspicious transactions from being processed. While she was still speaking to the caller, a colleague informed her that several large payments had already been made from the company's account without authorisation. The total amount transferred was approximately R21.55 million.

Jordaan immediately contacted ABSA's Fraud Department and reported the matter to the South African Police Service in Middelburg.

Rapid Intervention Prevented Further Losses

The case was referred to the AFU, which launched an investigation and sought urgent assistance from the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC). Following the request, the FIC issued directives to ABSA Bank to freeze funds held in nine separate accounts believed to have received portions of the stolen money.

Using evidence gathered during the investigation, the AFU approached the Middelburg High Court on an urgent ex parte basis and successfully obtained a preservation of property order on 12 June 2026. The order prevents any movement or disposal of the funds while forfeiture proceedings continue before the court.

Criminal Investigation Continues

Authorities are continuing to investigate the matter, with arrests expected as the case progresses. Potential charges include fraud, theft and money laundering. Investigators are working to identify everyone involved in the scheme and trace the movement of the funds through the banking system.

Nyuswa said the preservation order is an important step in protecting the money while legal proceedings unfold. She reaffirmed the NPA's commitment to fighting cybercrime, protecting victims of financial fraud and ensuring that proceeds linked to criminal activity are recovered through the legal process. The case also serves as a reminder of the growing sophistication of online scams, where criminals impersonate trusted institutions and use social engineering tactics to gain access to company and personal banking accounts.