The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in the Western Cape has obtained a court order forfeiting R11 million following an impersonation scam that resulted in payments from the Foschini Retail Group (TFG) into bank accounts later established to be fraudulently controlled.
According to a statement issued by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Tuesday, the matter arose from communications in which individuals impersonated senior executives and a professional adviser associated with TFG.
The NPA said that on 3 February 2025 a senior treasury accountant at TFG received WhatsApp communications relating to what was presented as a confidential corporate transaction following a board meeting. The communications indicated that urgent payments would be required and were accompanied by documentation intended to support the request.
Two payments, totalling more than R22m, were subsequently authorised to two separate bank accounts held in the name of the same company, ICUBED Distribution (Pty) Ltd, the NPA said.
Later that day, concerns were raised internally at TFG, and the company contacted its banking partners. The NPA said both banks placed temporary holds on the relevant accounts. One bank reversed a payment of about R11.8m, which was returned to TFG.
The remaining R11m remained frozen in a separate bank account. The AFU subsequently approached the High Court in Cape Town for a preservation order to prevent the dissipation of the funds.
A preservation order was granted on 6 August 2025. On 3 February 2026, the Court granted a final forfeiture order in respect of the R11m.
The NPA said the matter was pursued through civil forfeiture proceedings in terms of Chapter 6 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, which are directed at the recovery of property linked to unlawful activity and do not require a criminal conviction.
The Authority said it would continue to use civil forfeiture mechanisms to prevent suspected criminals from benefiting from complex financial crimes.
