Do not spread fake news or bogus messages about human trafficking or the kidnapping of women and children.
This was the stern warning issued by the Hawks on Wednesday after a multidisciplinary kidnapping task team was activated to find a foreigner, reported on social media platforms to have been abducted after arriving at Cape Town International Airport.
“This follows an incident where fake news surfaced on various social media platforms alleging a 32-year foreign national took a flight from Zimbabwe to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on December 1 to meet his fiancé,” said Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani.
“She indicated he was here to collect her and that they would return for their wedding ceremony. Information indicated that he landed at Cape Town International Airport on a flight from OR Tambo International Airport.
“The information received indicated that he ordered a taxi to pick him up at the airport. He was allegedly taken by a different vehicle and not the taxi he requested. At approximately 8pm the fiancé is said to have received messages from his phone that stated, 'WE GOT HIM', demanding money for his safe return. No ransom amount was mentioned.”
A kidnapping task team sprang into action, diverting police resources, to locate the man, but established there was no flight from Johannesburg matching details provided in the message. In addition, nobody with a matching name and surname had travelled from Zimbabwe to South Africa in the past three months.
CCTV video footage from Cape Town International Airport confirmed no person matching the man’s description had arrived.
“The complainant received another message hours later indicating the victim was on his way home and that his phone battery is flat. The complainant contacted his family, who indicated he was safe and it was only a prank,” said Hani.
“The directorate in the Western Cape is deeply concerned about the continued peddling of fake news and cautions the public against the incessant promotion and distribution of such malicious untruths”.
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Hunt for 'kidnapped foreigner' ends after social media scare revealed as 'only a prank'
The Hawks have warned people not to share bogus information
Image: 123RF/skynext
Do not spread fake news or bogus messages about human trafficking or the kidnapping of women and children.
This was the stern warning issued by the Hawks on Wednesday after a multidisciplinary kidnapping task team was activated to find a foreigner, reported on social media platforms to have been abducted after arriving at Cape Town International Airport.
“This follows an incident where fake news surfaced on various social media platforms alleging a 32-year foreign national took a flight from Zimbabwe to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on December 1 to meet his fiancé,” said Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani.
“She indicated he was here to collect her and that they would return for their wedding ceremony. Information indicated that he landed at Cape Town International Airport on a flight from OR Tambo International Airport.
“The information received indicated that he ordered a taxi to pick him up at the airport. He was allegedly taken by a different vehicle and not the taxi he requested. At approximately 8pm the fiancé is said to have received messages from his phone that stated, 'WE GOT HIM', demanding money for his safe return. No ransom amount was mentioned.”
A kidnapping task team sprang into action, diverting police resources, to locate the man, but established there was no flight from Johannesburg matching details provided in the message. In addition, nobody with a matching name and surname had travelled from Zimbabwe to South Africa in the past three months.
CCTV video footage from Cape Town International Airport confirmed no person matching the man’s description had arrived.
“The complainant received another message hours later indicating the victim was on his way home and that his phone battery is flat. The complainant contacted his family, who indicated he was safe and it was only a prank,” said Hani.
“The directorate in the Western Cape is deeply concerned about the continued peddling of fake news and cautions the public against the incessant promotion and distribution of such malicious untruths”.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
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