South African woman loses R510,000 in Tinder romance scam. Ugandan boyfriend vanishes after four months. Victim share experiences to raise awareness. Police close the case due to lack of evidence.
A South African woman has shared her harrowing experience of falling victim to a romance scam that cost her over R500,000. Jabu Nxumalo met a man claiming to be Deron Mundari from South Sudan on the dating app Tinder. Their relationship quickly progressed, with the man, later identified as Joseph Ssekasi from Uganda, gaining Nxumalo's trust through apparent displays of affection and commitment.
Ssekasi convinced Nxumalo to contribute R510,000 to a mysterious scheme involving "ancestors" and prayers. He also appeared to invest his own money, further cementing Nxumalo's trust. However, Ssekasi soon disappeared, leaving Nxumalo devastated and financially ruined.
Upon realizing she had been scammed, Nxumalo reported the incident to the police. Unfortunately, her experience with law enforcement left her feeling unsupported and hopeless. The case was eventually closed due to lack of evidence.
Despite the traumatic experience, Nxumalo has channeled her pain into raising awareness about romance scams. She now advises women to be vigilant and watch for red flags in new relationships, such as excessive interest in personal finances and rapid declarations of love.
