Henrik Rautenback (34), an alleged Facebook Fraudster allegedly defrauded an innocent victim who wanted to purchase a truck from him. The matter was later reported to the Police in Standerton and they traced as well as arrested him in Springs (in the Gauteng Province) on Saturday, 22 July 2023.

In April 2022, Rautebach is said to have lured his target for R400 000 in the pretence of selling him a truck. The victim allegedly paid first a deposit of R320 000 to him in order to get the truck. It is further alleged that when he communicated with the alleged fraudster, he was told to pay the remaining balance before getting the truck. The victim then made another deposit of the outstanding amount but still could not get the truck as promised.

The victim could not easily allow his loaned cash to go down the drain without taking an action, he then went to the given address, only to find out that the truck was not there.

A case was only opened by the complainant at Standerton SAPS in December 2022 thereafter an investigation was conducted and that was when the astute members began searching for the suspect who was in hiding.

After his arrest approximately 15 months later, members charged him with fraud.

Rautenback has since appeared at the Standerton Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Monday 24 July 2023 where he was granted bail of R10 000.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has reiterated the call for people to be careful when buying properties from various social media platforms as many people were scammed.

Source: South African Police Service