Most guest house owners do not want to approach the police out of fear of retaliation as they believe the man is armed.
The man, dressed in official military regalia, has been requesting quotations for accommodation, ranging from a week to two weeks, using fraudulent proof of payment to secure his stay.
Guest house owners that Polokwane Observer spoke to, all wanted to remain anonymous.
One manager told of how the guest came to their facility one Friday afternoon, requesting a quotation for a two-week stay.
“He later returned with proof of payment to secure his stay, but the document was future-dated and contained several spelling errors. Asked why payment was not reflecting in our bank account, he reassured me that the payment was only dated for the Monday and that it would reflect by that time.”
The quotation was for R17 740 and the fake proof of payment document indicated that it had been transferred.
“I still gave him the benefit of the doubt and he was allowed to stay overnight because we did not have proof that the document had been forged.”
The next day, when payment had still not reflected in the guest house account, the woman contacted the bank to verify the transaction.
A bank official informed her that it was indeed a fraudulent transaction.
“I approached the man and he insisted the payment would reflect on the Monday. I must warn others, he is a smooth-talker who can talk his way out of anything.”
Given the last year’s lockdown regulations and the strain the industry is taking, they did not want to risk losing a potentially long term customer.
But by the Sunday, they requested the man to leave, which he refused to do.
“He refused and we called the police. They took him to the Polokwane Police Station, but a case could not be opened as the police officer on duty told us that we should wait until Monday to see if the payment reflects in the account.”
The man, whose name is known to Polokwane Observer, was released on the same day and booked out of the guest house.
“We have since not heard from him and needless to say, the payment was never made.”
Managers at two other guest houses confirmed that they experienced the same ordeal with a man dressed in military regalia in the last week.
One of managers said they are, however, cautious. “He was armed when he came with the proof of payment so we allowed him to stay. At the time, we did not realise it was fraudulent. It was only after he left and the payment did not come through that we realised her was a con artist.”
The managers all say they will not pursue the matter criminally, as they fear retaliation.
They simply want other guest house owners to be aware of this man and his tricks, they told Polokwane Observer.
Polokwane Station Commander, Brig Gift Makhubele confirmed that he was aware of the situation and said no formal case has been opened.
“Without a case, our hands are tied. There is nothing we can do at this point but I am inviting these manager to meet with me to find a solution that will end this man’s spree.”
