Seven people were arrested for trying to sell municipal land to unsuspecting residents in Mzimhlophe, Soweto, the Johannesburg Metro Police Department said.

“They were posing as officials from the City of Johannesburg’s housing department and were registering people who wanted to purchase land,” said spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

The seven included three women.

Police also confiscated a registry from them that contained names of 200 potential buyers.

It has not yet been established as to how much they charged for land, said Minnaar.

They were expected to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court to face charges of fraud.