POLOKWANE – The message is pretty simple, it says that you have won a certain amount of money and in order to claim it, you have to call a particular person.
I have been told by people who have been in this situation that when you do call the person, you have to then give them money in exchange for the earnings that you won.
Sounds ridiculous right? Well at least to most of us.
Most people just brush off this ludicrous claim and carry on with their lives, but how many people actually know that they are being taken for a ride?
What about that poor mother of five who lives in a squatter camp waiting for her silver lining? Or that that teenager who just matriculated and dreams of becoming a doctor but has no funds? Do they also know it is a scam?
As much as we who have an education realise that this is nothing but fraud, we have to admit, we live in a country where more than half of its people are illiterate and do not even speak basic English.
I am not saying that they are stupid, all I’m saying is that if you have been living in abject poverty your whole, life common sense goes out the window.
Companies such as OMO have issued statements refuting these claims and denying any involvements to these “competitions”. They have also warned people against replying or calling these numbers.
All I want to know is how and where are these people getting our mobile phone numbers? Shouldn’t there be a law against this? I am beginning to worry because so many people have been duped by these types of scams. Many of us know someone who has been duped by these scams, but it seems like there is no justice for them.
I feel as though sometimes law enforcement turns the other cheek when it comes to white collar crimes and crimes where the perpetrators are illusive.
There has to be something done soon before our grandparents and parents are torn away from their hard earned money.
I think if the community works together with law enforcement and government we might be able to remedy this problem. We should not become a nation that sweeps things under the rug and pray that they go away. Otherwise we will be teaching the next generation that it is okay to let people get away with “murder”.
We need to be proactive and fight for the rights of our people.
Vella Nyoni
