Con artist pretending to be municipal manager caught in sting operation
In a dramatic turn of events in Utrecht, a con artist posing as the Emadlangeni municipal manager and soliciting money in exchange for jobs, has been apprehended.
The man’s modus operandi was to approach members of the community and ask if they knew anyone looking for work and then promising work in exchange for money.
One of the victims inquired with an official at the municipality’s human resources department about the existence of such positions in the municipality.
Following that, the municipal official presented the information to the police, who devised a plan to set up a sting operation.
The victim, accompanied by municipal officials, persuaded the conman to meet with them. When they arrived, the victim immediately went to the con artists’ vehicle, a white Hyundai H1 with an ND registration number.
Community members and traffic officials pounced and discovered bundles of cash notes inside the vehicle.
The suspect was apprehended and arrested and the Utrecht SAPS have opened a case of fraud.
The municipality has urged the community not to fall prey to such scams, further reiterating that ‘municipal jobs are not for sale but are advertised only in newspapers, the municipal website and official social media platforms.’
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