In the hopes of creating awareness about ongoing fraud in the community, Bedfordview and Edenvale News met with a couple who lost R30 000 to a scam.
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*Amy and Shawn, both in the 60s, spoke out to warn others after reading about *Martha, a Germiston resident who similarly lost thousands when she also fell victim to a scam.
In May, Amy and Shawn lost their money through several payments while trying to purchase a vehicle.
Amy explained that everything started while browsing vehicles to buy on the Facebook marketplace.
After having recently sold Shawn’s bakkie, the couple were in a position to purchase a second-hand vehicle and pay off some of their debt.
Amy said after she became unemployed the couple needed to use money from the bakkie’s sale to pay off some of the debt.
“I used to do locksmithing but we sold the car I was using with the hopes that we could buy a smaller car,” said Shawn.
After taking to the marketplace, they set their eyes on an automatic Hyundai i20 advertised for R23 000.
After making inquiries about the vehicle the couple was informed that the posted price was incorrect as the 15% VAT (R3450) was not included in the price.
They paid R11 500 on May 26, R14 950 on May 27 and then R3 550 on May 28.
After making their payments, the couple requested an invoice, however, none was received.
Amy said the sellers tried to assure them everything was all right and that the vehicle was on its way.
Amy said as the delivery date of the vehicle neared, she was requested to pay another R6 000.
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“That’s when we told them that we don’t have more money,” she said.
“I spoke to a man, who sounded foreign and he seemed arrogant, he told me it was a good deal. I asked the man to give us our money back and I even offered to give him our banking details.”
On May 28, Amy said she contacted one of the sellers informing him that she had contacted Capitec Bank after learning the account was a personal and not a business account.
“I asked the man if this was a scam and he admitted it, I was gobsmacked,” said Amy.
“Now we don’t have a car again, we are battling and it is unfair.”
This comes after numerous fraud cases have been registered in Edenvale and it raises concerns.
Amy said after contacting Capitec she was informed that the money is gone. She said the entire incident has left them in a difficult situation.
“The reason we were going to get an automatic was that we both have hip problems and it would have made it easier for us,” said Amy
“You hear it happening to other people but don’t believe it will happen to yourself,” said Shawn.
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Following the incident, the couple said they opened a case of fraud at Edenvale Police Station.
They said they have received limited feedback about the matter.
Edenvale SAPS corporate communications officer Sergeant Jacob Mashile said the police are aware of the case. The matter is still under investigation.
Mashile said numerous fraud cases have recently been registered at the police station, something which has raised concerns.
He highlighted that scams can cost victims a lot of money and cause a great deal of distress.
Mashile said some of the most common cases include phishing and fraud scams.
He said these are methods of deceitfully obtaining personal information such as passwords, identity numbers and credit card details.
“It is done by perpetrators calling, sending emails or cellphone messages that look like they come from trusted sources,” said Mashile.
Typically, these emails or message requests contain links that when clicked on direct users to a spoofed website that obtains, verifies or updates contact details or other sensitive financial information.
“These emails and messages can also contain a telephone number contact person whom you should call, as you are informed that you won large sums of money, said Mashile.”
What to do to prevent falling victim:
• Never respond to emails or cellphone messages claiming to be from your bank that request your details.
• Never provide your online ID, password or PIN to anyone.
• Never write down or share your online ID, password or pins.
• Do not save your internet banking password on your desktop.
• Do not leave your computer unattended after you have entered your internet banking password.
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• Always log off or sign off at the end of a session.
• Avoid doing online banking in public areas such as Internet cafés.
• Change your PIN and passwords frequently.
• Put sensible transaction limits on your accounts.
• Only provide your credit card details to reputable companies.
• If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
• Don’t provide your credit card information to individuals you don’t trust.*Names changed to protect the identity of the victim of the crime.
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