Property developer warns of holiday scam

PAM Golding Durban North has warned residents to be on the lookout for a holiday letting scam using the company’s details, logo and e-mail address and advertising on the well-known online site, Gumtree. Belinda Hellerlé, rental manager for the property developer, said she was shocked to find three people had been duped into thinking they were securing a holiday flat on the Durban beachfront over the December holidays.

Although no money was exchanged, Hellerlé said it was of concern that the scamsters were using the details of Pam Golding Properties to con people.

“We initially got a call from a man wanting to confirm whether we did offer holiday letting. He read out the number given to him, which did not match ours, and supposedly belonged to the ‘Pam Golding Holiday Rentals’ advert on Gumtree. We reported the advert as a scam and requested it be removed urgently to avoid other members of the public being subjected to this scam. We eventually contacted the bank where the fraudulent account had been opened for them to investigate and freeze the holiday rentals bank account.

“There are two people that we know of and they seem to know the industry. They are still answering their phones and we now know of three people who had almost bought into the lie. We don’t do holiday letting and I’m urging residents who come across any adverts purporting to be from Pam Golding Properties on Gumtree not to part with their money,” Hellerlé said.

A case of fraud has been opened at the Durban North SAPS and the adverts have been pulled from the website.