Another victim falls for online scam
MIDRAND – A man has been scammed out of nearly R40 000 while attempting to purchase a car online, according to the Midrand police.
Another online buyer has been targeted by fraudsters in a spate of similar scams, the Midrand Police Station has said.
According to Constable Thabiso Selowa, the acting spokesperson for Midrand police, the case was reported to the station on 9 July.
It was reported that a man attempting to buy a vehicle off a popular online website was defrauded of nearly R40 000 before he reported the incident to the police.
“The complainant alleged that he saw an advert for a Volkswagen Golf 3, maroon in colour and without a registration number [for sale on the website],” Selowa said.
“He then called the number on the advert to purchase the vehicle.
“The seller agreed to the purchase and promised to send photos of the vehicle to the buyer who would have to deposit
R17 000 in the seller’s bank account.
“Two days after the first deposit, the buyer received a phone call from the seller informing him that he must pay R20 000 to the same account.
“The seller waited for the car dealer to deliver the vehicle to him, but the seller never arrived and his phone was off.”
It was at this point that the buyer reported the matter to the police. The incident is still being investigated and no arrests have been made.
Selowa pointed to several similar incidences which had been reported to the station recently, and recommended that online buyers take extra care to avoid such scams.
“The community must be aware when purchasing property online.
“They must ask the dealer to meet them at their nearest police station, and they must not pay any deposit after only seeing the property in an advert because most of them are scams.”
Details: Midrand Police Station
011 347 1626.
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/198665/online-fraud-scams-need-know/
