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PRIORITY ESCAPE HOLIDAY SCAMMER APPEARS IN COURT AFTER JOINT INVESTIGATION BY SSS AND THE HAWKS
(DOUGLASDALE SAPS CAS 270/08/2023)
A 40-year-old fraudster, Francois Swart, appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge this morning,
on Wednesday, 29 January 2025, after handing himself over to the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit.
Mr. Francois Swart, the mastermind behind "Priority Escape," is accused of orchestrating a high-profile travel fraud scheme, leaving dozens of victims stranded and out of pocket. He allegedly pocketed
over R2.1 million, which was meant for luxury holidays.
Read our initial project of 22 December 2023 for more context:
THE SCAM:
Mr. Swart lured unsuspecting South Africans with lavish holiday deals through his company, Priority Escape.
He convinced clients to deposit large sums of money for exclusive vacation packages, promising them dream getaways to five-star resorts.
However, when the departure dates arrived, clients were met with a brutal reality – Priority Escape had shut down, their money was gone, and their holiday never existed.
Investigations by the Hawks and Specialised Security Services revealed that Mr. Swart never intended to book the trips and instead spent the money for personal gain.
FRAUD OF R2.1 MILLION:
Following an in-depth forensic investigation by the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, it was discovered that Mr. Swart had:
Diverted more than R2.1 million in client funds into his personal accounts.
Used the stolen money to finance an extravagant lifestyle instead of paying for clients' holidays.
Operated multiple businesses to cover his tracks, including:
Priority Escape (main scam operation).
Plaisance Cluster Development (200200517308).
Wholesale Sourcing Co (202247490007).
Payment Police (202231072207).
Investmode (202182936507).
THE MANHUNT AND MR. SWART'S DECISION TO SURRENDER:
As complaints flooded in, the case was taken up by Detective Mboweni from the Hawks, with critical assistance from Specialised Security Services' Cyber Crime Unit, led by Mr. J.D. Pienaar.
After months of intense investigation, Mr. Swart had no place left to hide.
Feeling the pressure, he finally surrendered to the Hawks in Gauteng.
SUCCESS THROUGH COLLABORATION:
This significant arrest was only possible through the tireless efforts of law enforcement, private investigators,
and the victims who came forward.
Special thanks to Detective Mboweni from the Hawks for his relentless pursuit of justice.
Gratitude to Specialised Security Services (S.S.S.) for their cyber forensic expertise.
A sincere acknowledgement to the public for their information and support.
This case proves that fraudsters can run but cannot hide!
VICTIMS URGED TO COME FORWARD:
If Mr. Francois Swart or Priority Escape scammed you or someone you know,
you are urged to come forward immediately to strengthen the case.
CONTACT DETAILS:
HAWKS INVESTIGATOR
Detective Mboweni
Contact number: +27 71 351 7469
SSS SPECIALIST CYBER CRIME INVESTIGATOR
Mr.J.D. Pienaar
Contact number: +27 066 377 3301
Email address: jdpienaar@mikebolhuis.co.za
Your statement can help ensure maximum prosecution and justice for all victims.
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Regards,
Mike Bolhuis
Specialist Investigators into
Serious Violent, Serious Economic Crimes & Serious Cybercrimes
PSIRA Reg. 1590364/421949
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