A TURFFONTEIN couple were offered a job that will pay R300 for three hours to unload products from trolleys into a truck but ended up being arrested for theft on June 19 in Boksburg and Randburg respectively.
The couple, who didn’t want their names mentioned, have been together for eight years and have been surviving on piece jobs.
They depend on an organisation called Meals on Wheels for food and clothes.
Prior to this scam, they had no fear of being scammed because they own no luxuries. But on June 19 as they were in the queue at Meals on Wheels to receive their meals, they were approached by three men who offered them a job opportunity to earn money.
“These guys told us that we will be loading goods from trolleys into a truck and we agreed to take the offer because we are in need of a job where we can earn money. So, we came to an agreement and we were driven to a shopping centre in Boksburg. My girlfriend was advised to stay in the vehicle with one of the scammers when we arrived at the shopping centre,” the man said.
“The men pretended as if they are the managers of the supermarket that we went too. They loaded two boxes into a trolley and I was instructed to take the trolley outside the shop and wait for a truck. While I was busy, security guards summoned me and asked for receipts for the items in the trolley. The two guys vanished, I couldn’t see where they went.”
He further told the COURIER that he was then arrested and released after a few hours after the police saw the CCTV footage showing two males loading a trolley and giving it to him.
“My girlfriend was being threatened by these men while she was in the vehicle. They told her they will kill me if she does not corporate. She was commanded to go with them to a shopping centre in Randburg where the same scenario played out. However, my girlfriend was not so lucky to be released. She was arrested and is currently out on bail.
The COURIER contacted the Parkview SAPS in Randburg and Constable Feleze confirmed that there is a case of this nature being investigated. The couple is appealing to the public to please render their support, be it with funding or counselling, as the woman will be appearing in court soon.
Members of the public can contact them on 079 581 2340.
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