Quick thinking gets fraudster nabbed
Have you been tricked out of your money by a man called Johan Eloff? Police want all people affected by this fraudster to come forward.
Quick thinking by staff of a labour outsourcing company in Randfontein led to the arrest of a fraudster believed to be operating all over the West Rand.
Karel Burger, Golden Wing Labour Outsourcing director explained they met with Johan Eloff who claimed he was a representative of a company called Red Path Mining.
“Our office contacted him on Monday (17 November). He was very eager and told us he would need more than 126 candidates on the Rustenburg mines. Because our database consists of more than 8 000 screened candidates in all fields, we were more than able to assist him,” Burger said.
According to Burger, Eloff then asked for eight boilermakers to be interviewed on Tuesday (18 November) at the Wimpy in Florida in Roodepoort, for which Golden Wing had to pay R150 per candidate up front for the use of Teba registration and cards.
“A sales executive, Daan Hartman and I accompanied the candidates to the Wimpy where Eloff introduced himself as a former inspector of mines. He was very polite and professional throughout the interview process and made us feel very at ease. He employed two boilermakers and claimed he would organise medicals for them the next week. At the meeting Eloff also asked for 10 electricians and we paid the R1 500 for them into his Capitech account the same day,” Burger added.
Burger suspected fowl play later that day when Eloff phoned again and asked for eight fitters, four admin staff and six miners, and insisted that the R150 for each candidate be paid over as well. The company’s legal department was asked to investigate Eloff and came across a website (www.crimestop.co.za) where his name came up as “Employment Fraudster Johan Eloff.”
Golden Wing then contacted Lt Colonel Gert Kruger who responded immediately. According to Kruger there were two outstanding warrants for Eloff for other acts of fraud he committed on the West Rand.
“We told Eloff that the candidates would meet him again at the Wimpy on Wednesday (19 November) and he agreed,” said Burger.
Kruger arrested Eloff at the Wimpy at 9am that day and a third case of fraud was opened against him.
“It’s bad enough that he stole our money, but giving people who are desperate for work false hope is a crime in itself,” Burger said.
Warrant Officer Karlien Coombe from the Randfontein investigation office asked that other people who have been done in by Eloff or have any information regarding the case contact her on 011 278 8100.
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