Two men aged between 38 and 54 appeared briefly at the Durban regional court on Wednesday to face charges of theft, fraud and money-laundering.
It is alleged that one of the suspects pretended to be a salesman and would entice potential buyers to purchase imported second-hand vehicles.
According to police spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo, the accused would show clients various second-hand vehicles and convince them to either pay a deposit or the total amount.
Scores of scammed people paid up to R1 667 430 to the account number provided by the accused, who later failed to deliver on their promise.
“A number of case dockets were registered in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Western Cape provinces. An intensive investigation was then conducted by the Hawks from Pietermaritzburg serious organised crime investigation, hence they were arrested today [Wednesday],” said Mhlongo.
The accused were later released on R20 000 bail each and the matter was postponed to October 6. The police did not explain the role of the co-accused.
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