Police nab alleged bank card fraudster who had been on the run since 2017

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Police have confirmed an arrest of a 35 years old alleged bank card scammer who have been on run for over two years.

Wonder Mgube, who is facing numerous counts of fraud was first arrested in October 2017 at a filling station, allegedly trying to scam another motorist into giving him hard cash in exchange for a fraudulent filling station card to fill up his tank at a Caltex Garage, Airport City outside of Cape Town.

Captain Lloyd Ramovha said that this was allegedly noticed by a petrol attendant who raised an alarm which led to Mgube fleeing the scene realising that police were on his tail and later on managed to apprehend him.

“He left his vehicle when he fled the scene and upon searching the vehicle, police uncovered about 18 counterfeit bank cards, papers containing numerous card numbers, a card reader writer/encoding machine as well as a laptop.”

“He was consequently granted bail by the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court. Whilst he was out on bail he was arrested again at BP Rondebosch Motors on 25 October 2017 for a same modus operandi. Two counterfeit bank cards were found in his possession.”

Both cases were centralized and transferred to the Serious Commercial Court and set to resume on January 31st 2019 where he absconded and warrant of arrest was subsequently issued against him on March 4th 2019.

Captain added that Mgube had been on the run since then and was rearrested on Wednesday afternoon in Stikland by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.

Mgude is to face no less than 118 charges at Belleville Serious Commercial Crimes Court on counts relating to conspiracy to commit fraud and forgery to the tune of over R100 000-00 in contravention of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act.