Hours after being attacked by a gang of four knife-wielding men on a remote Joubertina farm, a couple were contacted by alleged conmen claiming to have arrested the suspects.
The farm attack happened at about 8pm on Thursday and the couple managed to free themselves and alert police by Friday morning.
Details emerged late on Friday when alleged conmen posing as police officials claimed to have caught three suspects.
Initially, reports surfaced of arrests at about 2pm. However by 5pm police detectives realised it was part of a suspected scam to trick the couple into possibly paying cash to get their stolen bakkie back.
Police spokeswoman Captain Gerda Swart said a man posing as a police captain had called the owner of the bakkie, claiming it had been recovered and three men arrested.
“Initially, everyone thought it was a breakthrough in the case. When the conmen called the owner, the station commander was actually present and spoke to the caller.”
But by 5pm detectives had established the story was a hoax.
Asked if the conmen were possibly linked to the robbery, Swart said it was being investigated, but it was thought to be a different group.
The couple was looking after the farm when they were attacked by the gang who held them captive overnight.
Swart said that between three and four men accosted the couple – who are caretakers living on the farm - while holding them up inside their home.
The suspects stole electronic appliances. During the robbery the man was assaulted.