IT’s been a stressful battle of identify for a local nurse at Ngwelezana Hospital.
Nelisiwe Zungu (44) was recently made aware that a woman had been impersonating her and opening up clothing and furniture accounts on her name.
According to Zungu, she was initially contacted by Truworths, early last month, who informed her that a woman had tried to open an account using her ID, a copy of her payslip and even fake bank statements (with her correct account number).
Somewhat confused and concerned, Zungu was assured by Truworths that they had declined the customer because she had raised suspicions.
A month later Zungu was then contacted by Woolworths who said there was a problem with her card and she would need come in to rectify it.
‘I went to the store and they told me that someone had opened an account on my name using all the necessary documents.
‘The lady had then bought goods to the value of close to R1 000.
‘But when she tried to pay using the card there was a problem and so she had to leave everything behind.’
Zungu admitted that she was shocked when she found out that the impostor had all her correct information.
‘She has a fake ID, with my ID number – the only thing that’s different is the date of which it was issued, and the picture.’
Zungu noted that she had approached Home Affairs to find out whether they had any record of another ID.
‘According to Home Affairs records they only have my original ID that was issued in 2004 listed on their system, the one that I have in possession with me.
‘But they have no record of an ID with ID number that was issued in 2012.’
That same day Zungu was contacted by Lewis Furniture who told her that they were meant to deliver furniture to her house but were suspicious about the area in which she lived.
‘Lewis contacted me and said that they went to deliver R30 000 worth of furniture to a home in eMatshana but the driver became suspicious when he saw the home because he said that it did not look like a home of a nurse.
‘The driver stopped outside the home and a man approached him to sign for the furniture but when the driver asked him to provide his ID he could not.’
‘This further raised the driver’s suspicions and so he drove back to the store with all the furniture.’
Zungu said she hadn’t received her pay slips from work for the past two months and is very concerned about whether or not the impostor obtained her pay slips from her workplace.
‘I spoke with the HR Manager at work and he said it is very difficult for an outsider to access personal information about us.
‘But he did say that he was under the impression there was something fishy going on at work.’
Zungu said she has since opened a case of identity theft at the Empangeni Police Station.
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