Yet another person falls victim to recent online car sale scam in Kyalami
KYALAMI – After similar reports in April, a Kyalami resident has been scammed by on an online ad to buy a car.
Another person has become the victim of an online car sale scam.
The Fourways Review previously published an article regarding an incident of fraud reported to the Midrand Police Station on 4 April, Online car sale a scam [Week ending 19 April], where a man made a
R11 500 deposit on a Corolla vehicle, only to discover that the sellers were posting false information and never intended to give him the car.
A week later, the same police station warned residents to be wary of online sales as the station had received multiple reports of the same type of crime.
On 28 May, another Kyalami resident fell victim to criminals using this ruse.
Constable Thabiso Selowa of the Midrand Police Station explained, “The complainant alleged that he saw an advert for a Toyota Corolla to the value of
R25 000 [on a website which sells second-hand goods].
“The complainant called the number on the advert.”
The person who answered the call identified himself as a car dealer and asked the victim to pay 50 per cent of the price as a deposit on the vehicle, with the promise that they would meet after the deposit was paid.
The victim went to his local bank branch and transferred the money using the account information that he had been given. “After he deposited the balance, the suspect never answered his phone and the complainant never received the vehicle.”
Selowa said no arrests had yet been made in the matter and the police were investigating a case of fraud. She also gave advice to online buyers.”The community must be alert when organising rentals and purchasing vehicles online, as sometimes ‘sellers’ will defraud them.”
She advised people buying goods online to not be too trusting, and also gave advice on how to complete transactions safely. “A safe place to meet [when following through with online purchases] is your nearest police station or vehicle testing station so that the staff there can assist in checking the vehicle before you purchase it.”
Details: Midrand Police Station 011 347 1626.
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