"These advertisements are placed all over the country to cheat unsuspecting buyers. Cases of fraud were registered and some of the suspects will be appearing in Hoopstad Magistrate Court facing charges of fraud."
Thakeng said that in a case that dates back to 2012, various advertisements were posted on Gumtree stating that the suspects were selling front loaders, motor parts, industrial vehicles and truck parts that did not exist.
"The alleged fraudsters placed different companies to be situated in different towns all over South Africa. In most incidents contact persons on those advertisements were Belinda De Beer, Samantha De Beer and Malcolm De Beer," he said.