Colton Scam: Georgie Maureen Da Lanca Arrested and Held in Custody
Johannesburg – Georgie Maureen da Lanca, a 42-year-old woman facing fraud charges, has been apprehended in connection with the “Colton scam syndicate” and presented before the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court at Palm Ridge.
Da Lanca appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday, (12 March 2025), and has been remanded in custody.
The case has been postponed to 19 March 2025, when the accused will submit her bail application.
Describing the events leading up to Da Lanca’s arrest on Monday, (10 March 2025), Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela stated that an operation was initiated to dismantle sophisticated fraud syndicates operating in South Africa.
Warrant Officer Mavimbela indicated that the operation was conducted by the “419 Task Team” from the Hawks, formally known as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
“Da Lanca, who is also known by the alias ‘Lisa,’ was arrested following an investigation into a case that was opened at the Sandton police station in November 2022,” said Warrant Officer Mavimbela.
“She is facing preliminary charges of fraud and money laundering.”
The case involves an amount of R250 000.
According to Warrant Officer Mavimbela, the complainant was drawn into a fraudulent “Colton deal” by a co-conspirator named Tony Bradley.
“The complainant was misled into making payments under the guise of obtaining a cross-border certificate and activating a code, only to later discover inconsistencies that revealed the scam,” said Warrant Officer Mavimbela.
“Investigations uncovered that the R250 000 deposited by the complainant into an FNB account was later distributed across three different accounts, including one belonging to Ms. Da Lanca.”
Warrant Officer Mavimbela noted that investigations revealed Da Lanca’s role as “a pivotal figure in a Colton syndicate” that has deceived multiple victims throughout Johannesburg.
Da Lanca’s co-accused, Tony Bradley, was arrested on 18 November 2022.
Bradley was granted bail set at R5 000 in December 2022.
“Significantly, there are three additional warrants of arrest (J50) awaiting execution as part of the comprehensive investigation into the syndicate,” said Warrant Officer Mavimbela.
The DPCI Provincial Head in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, applauded the Hawks’ 419 Task Team for their “commitment and persistence” in exposing this matter.
Warrant Officer Mavimbela emphasized that the latest arrest reflects the DPCI’s steadfast commitment to tackling organized crime and delivering justice for the victims affected by these schemes.