Umgeni Park woman loses R50k in ‘financial planner’ scam
After four days, Bell discovered that the woman did not cut up her bank card but had skimmed it and withdrew her money. She also used the overdraft facility, leaving Bell with debt of R50 000.
AN elderly woman, living in a retirement village at Umgeni Park, claims she was recently scammed out of R50 000 when her bank card was skimmed by a “well-dressed woman who said her name was Candice.”
Joy Bell was at her home last week when the woman came over to visit her.
The woman claimed to be from a reputable bank and said she was sent to assist Bell with her financial planning.
READ ALSO: Scam artist targets north Durban pensioners, warns resident
“I had never met the woman before or spoken to her over the phone, but I trusted her when she told me she was from the bank that I banked with. She also knew all the details of my finances and if she knew my home address too, there was no reason for me to assume that she wasn’t from the bank,” said Bell.
After a few minutes of discussing money matters, ‘Candice’ asked Bell for her bank card, assuring her she no longer needed it and that another one would be sent to her in a few days.
“She sat with her laptop in front of her and cut up my card. She then handed the pieces to me in a piece of tissue and told me to discard it into the toilet,” said Bell.
She then left and reassured Bell that the card will be sent to her in a few days.
About four days later, Bell discovered that ‘Candice’ did not cut up her bank card but had skimmed it and withdrew her money.
She also ran up an overdraft, leaving her with debt of R50 000.
“I realised that she had not cut up my card and had given me another card. I went into the bank and asked for a bank statement. There were several withdrawals made from various ATMs in the Durban area,” added Bell.
Bell said she wants to warn other elderly people to not fall victim to this scam.
“Do not trust anyone who asks to visit you to discuss your finances out of the blue. It is a scam,” she said.
Bell added that a case had been opened at Greenwood Park SAPS, however police comment could not be obtained by the time this story was published.
Another senior citizen, who was also allegedly scammed by ‘Candice’, spoke to Northglen News. Read more in our print edition next week.
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