IRS Forensic Investigations

Drie in hof op string klagtes na ponzi-belegginskema van meer as R11 miljoen in mekaar tuimel.
Marlene en Clive Lewarne, die beweerde meesterbreine agter ’n multi-miljoen rand ponzi-beleggsinskema, het Vrydag vlugtig saam Annelie Smit in die streekhof op Middelburg verskyn, na hul arrestasie vroeër die oggend.

A Durban Regional court has convicted notorious fraudster Sugan Deon Naicker to 35 years imprisonment. The 37-year-old Chatsworth resident pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud amounting to over R500 000, while several cases remain open across the country.
IRS does not believe the matter stops here as there are still other cases that Naicker must account for. The difference now is that he cannot evade arrest or not present himself at court because we know where he is - in prison!
Article via Indian Spice who have been at the forefront of keeping this case in the public domain.

The bank accounts of the online forex trader JP Markets remain in limbo and now the liquidators appointed by the court to wind up the business also don’t have access to the company funds.

Eastern Cape police have re-arrested five of seven awaiting trial prisoners who escaped from the Elliot police holding cells.

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It’s estimated that a master conman and his accomplices may have conned as much as R500-million out of over 300 victims in what’s been described as one of the biggest litigation funding schemes ever, in South Africa. And from being bullied at high school to being a charismatic daredevil behind the wheel of her pink BMW, Stacey Lee May has wormed her way into the hearts of the South African motorsport fraternity.

Alleged criminal Casanova Rudi Brits has refused to eat any food since being transferred to prison in Stellenbosch.
He apparently wants to be moved back to Pollsmoor prison, the Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court heard on Wednesday.

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) announced on Tuesday that it had, based on evidence from the National Consumer Commission and Financial Intelligence Centre, frozen the accounts and was investigating a Covid-19 pyramid scheme called Up Money grocery club owned by Jude Matsimela and Sipho Mdhuli.

We investigate criminology in this episode of 48hours. Thaloki is interested in a career in Forensic Fraud. 48 Hours introduces her to forensic investigator Lauren who shows her how to put a case file together. Entrepreneur Chad shows her the opportunities available in forensic fraud.

Great episode of 48 hours on SABC TV, first featuring an IRS employee mentoring a prospective investigator, and then an IRS director explains the role of the private investigation industry.

A well-known businessman from Mossel Bay, who has allegedly been running from the law for approximately the last 14 years, was arrested by members of the Mossel Bay police and an independent financial crimes investigation company, IRS Forensic Investigations, at his home in Muller Street last night.

Convicted fraudster Sugan Deon Naicker has successfully managed to con hundreds of individuals over more than a decade of their hard-earned savings and now he has been discovered running new fraudulent operations in Queensburgh, south of Durban.

Originally from Indian Spice.

Checkpoint investigates a company named Labour law services. It has employees believing that it can help them get payment from employers after unfair dismissal.​

On Devi tonight, a career conman (Johnny van Eeden) is out on bail and at it again, and the woman who turned the love of pink into a lifestyle.

An urgent application will be filed in the High Court in Port Elizabeth this week against Willie Breedt, the defunct CEO and owner of the cryptocurrency scheme, VaultAge Solution (VS).

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Enticed by the belief they could make easy money, the people featured in this investigation learned a hard and expensive lesson.

We all know enough not to fall for an email scam, right? But what if the scamsters have become so sophisticated, they use multiple tactics to create a layered con? And She’s got great hair, a great smile and tons of jokes. Comedian, Lindy Johnson has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the competitive comedy scene. In a few short years, she’s gone from participating in a university talent show to being tapped by Trevor Noah. But, despite her confidence, it hasn’t always been easy, and while Covid-19 has brought a new challenge, this young lady isn’t about to lose her sense of humour.

Gangs in the Western Cape are opening security companies as a front to get firearms, warns a criminologist.

This article highlights the work being done by Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority in clamping down on rogue security providers, with comment by Chad Thomas from IRS.

A man accused of stealing millions from Bitcoin investors appears to have made a run for it.
Investors who were contacted by News24 said they have not heard from the CEO of VaultAge Solutions (VS), Willie Breedt, since December when he promised to pay back their money.

Chief executive Chad Thomas says the majority of complaints are of none supply of goods that have already been paid for.
With the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) increases, several scams have emerged.
Chief executive of IRS Forensic Investigations Chad Thomas says they have been approached by several companies asking for help to find criminals who run off with their money.
Speaking to Joanne Joseph, Thomas says with the lockdown regulations, clients could not travel to go inspect the goods.

As the country went into Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown in March and the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) increased, several scams emerged, targeting companies and government departments in need of surgical masks, sanitisers and gloves.

Article in City Press about PPE fraud and associated investigation by IRS into criminal syndicates.

The illicit trade in tobacco, especially cigarettes, costs South Africa's economy billions of rands annually through the loss of tax revenue. According to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the estimated loss through the illegal cigarette trade for the 2015/16 financial year was R6 billion.

And it seems, the illegal cigarette trade will thrive due to the ban on legal sales in the country.

The continued ban forms part of the state's regulations governing the Covid-19 lockdown and has been in place since March 27.

Chad Thomas, CEO at IRS Forensic Investigations joins me now.