Alleged conman prays for Durban North business owner after scam
"He is so convincing and it was extremely easy to believe him. He had all the necessary paper work and file filled with documentation," - businessman.
AN alleged conman, posing as a lay pastor and a licensing and firearms officer, is working his way through Durban North; asking business owners and residents to support his alleged fundraising drive.
Leigh-Ann Angwort, administrator for Durban North Methodist Church said the man had somehow obtained a copy of their letterhead.
With the falsified document he is allegedly asking the community to donate towards church’s sandwich drive.
However, Angwort has categorically stated that the man is not involved with the Durban North Methodist Church and urged the community not to give him any money.
“The man obviously knows that the church donates sandwiches to the needy and is now using this in his scam,” she said.
She was alerted to the alleged scam by a businessman in the area who had given the alleged conman R900 in total.
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The businessman, whose identity is known to Northglen News, but has requested anonymity, said the alleged scammer spent about 35 minutes at his store in Broadway.
“He told me he needed to purchase 50 loaves of bread at R10. I gave him R450. He then said he was a licensing and firearms officer at Greenwood Park Police Station and he could get me a firearm licence for R450. So I gave it to him,” said the businessman.
Before the man left the store, he prayed for the business and the staff.
A few days later, the businessman tried to call the supposed pastor and police officer, but his calls went unanswered.
The Northglen News also made several attempts to contact the man, but the phone is now on voicemail.
“He is so convincing and it was extremely easy to believe him. He had all the necessary paper work and a file filled with documentation,” he said.
Greenwood Park and Durban North police stations could not comment on the matter as no case has been opened.
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