Lovers’ tiff leads to identity theft suspects being held

04 January 2016 - 11:50 By Gareth Wilson

A couple believed to be part of a national identity theft syndicate were arrested in Port Elizabeth at the weekend after the man reported his girlfriend to the police following an argument over money. The 37-year-old man‚ a foreigner‚ and his 30-year-old girlfriend had fought over money before they broke up and he called the police.Instead of finding his problem resolved‚ however‚ the man was arrested when the police noticed the identity number he had used to lay a complaint appeared to be fraudulent.Neither the man nor his former girlfriend are being named by the police until they appear in court and are formally charged.It is believed they are linked to a countrywide syndicate responsible for stealing tens of thousands of rands after opening false accounts at shops.The two allegedly manipulated bank statements‚ falsified stolen identity documents and opened a string of false bank accounts with the stolen documents to buy televisions‚ furniture‚ cellphones and other items.The arrests came after the couple broke up following a New Year’s party. - TMG Digital/The Herald..

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