IT is believed that a syndicate is once again targeting Durban North and uMhlanga residents with a new type of scam.
A Sunningdale resident, who wished only to be identified as Rolf, was targeted by an alleged scam artist in Clicks Pharmacy at Gateway Theatre of Shopping, on Tuesday afternoon.
Rolf said a woman approached him while he was standing in the queue and she told him that she had immigrated from Australia.
The scamster tried, but failed to get R250 out of the resident.
She told him of her problem: her mother had recently suffered a stroke and she was unable to get back to her hotel, and her bank cards were not working. She needed R250.
“I immediately suspected that she was attempting to scam me, by the way that she approached me. It was professionally done, and I felt that her story was too well rehearsed. She even flashed me her wallet to prove that she had some money, but not enough,” he said.
The perceptive resident decided to pretend to be interested in assisting the suspected fraudster.
“I told her that I would help her, but that I just needed to pay for my medication. Then she could accompany me to the ATM. But I suspect that she realised that I was aware of her scheme.
“She then suddenly told me that she had to go, and asked me not to tell anyone as she felt ashamed for asking a complete stranger for help,” he added.
Rolf described the woman as a tall and slender brunette in her late 30s. “She was well dressed and well kept, and it sounded like she had an Afrikaans accent,” he said.
He added that he had reported the incident to the Clicks manager, as well as the Gateway centre management.
Lt Raymond Deokaran, communications officer at Durban North SAPS, said that there was a strong possibility that the woman could be involved in a syndicate.
“I won’t disregard the notion, but we do not have any proof. This is the first time such a scam has been reported to the station with that specific modus operandi,” he said.
Deokaran added that scams were prevalent in the area, and that there were various types being orchestrated.
He urged residents to report such incidences to the authorities.
