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Fraud victim: Wally Serote

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An internet scammer pretending to be Serote has been using the poet's e-mail to send out requests for money to his e-mail contacts.

The imposter claims to be stuck in Madrid, Spain, and in need of about?1.250 (R14.415) to pay for his air ticket back to South Africa as well as his hotel bills.

The e-mails went viral yesterday with Serote receiving more than 30 phone calls by lunch time from worried friends.

"I was made aware of the scam when someone called me at 2am [yesterday] wanting to know if I was okay.

"Someone has broken into my e-mail and is now using it to scam people for money. My computer is also jammed. I haven't been able to use it since this morning, all my passwords aren't working," Serote said yesterday.

Sowetan has seen the string of e-mails sent out by an imposter using the name Mongane Serote.

"I don't have a phone with me. I lost my wallet in a taxi on my way to the hotel, where my money and other valuable things were kept. Please I need your urgent assistance with some money," writes the fraudster.

"I will pay you back, as soon as I return. Please let me know if you can be of any help, money can be sent to me through Western Union or Moneygram," reads the e-mail.

In later e-mails the imposter elevates his request to "a matter of urgency", claiming that he had been kicked out of the hotel for failing to pay the bills.

Serote said he was worried that some people may believe the e-mails and send money.

"I will be going to the police today," he said. -sifilel@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Tue Jun 18 09:31:28 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 9, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

One would be a fool to believe this scam !!!
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Oct 9, 2012

Pointman

Western union transfers are hard to trace because only info the receiver needs is the code number and password. If someone insists on being paid through Western Union then it is most likely a scam. No bad reflection on Western Union though since they provide a valuable service for money transfers to poor people and migrants.
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Oct 9, 2012

RobinH

Morena: Agreed. But then we have a vast number of fools in this country. Look at who has been elected president. Proof enough.
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Oct 9, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

RobinH
Morena: Agreed. But then we have a vast number of fools in this country. Look at who has been elected president. Proof enough
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Ha ha ha ha ha ha..... thats a low blow Sir!!!!!LOL
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Oct 9, 2012

2shy2call

The are many ways to kill a cat.

this is the other way to get tax payers money direct from their pockets
or through tenders.

You choose
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Oct 9, 2012

Pointman

@MorenaWaPolelo and RobinH - people get caught in scams because they trust and out of ignorance. Humans have to trust because human society is underpinned by trust and knowledge. Victims of scams include rich and highly educated people and also uneducated and poor people. I would not consider the former CEO of Pick and Pay a fool - and he was taken for about R50m.
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Oct 9, 2012

RobinH

Pointman. I hear what you say, but the fact remains that "trust" in SA today is a highly dangerous thing. People that should be beyond reproach are cheating the country and its people 24/7. So with respect, anyone that demonstrates too much trust needs councilling.
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Oct 9, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Pointman
I would not consider the former CEO of Pick and Pay a fool - and he was taken for about R50m.
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Sir I disagree with you, you cannot blame the failure of applaying your brains on humanity and trust. A sane person like that PnP CE is always expeted to apply the brains educated or not failure to do so qualifies him in the category of fools Sir and education has nothing to do with this. How can a person afford to email you when everything is taken from him? Lets not make excuses for being lazy to apply our brains please!!!
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Oct 9, 2012

Tsatsatsa

I am glad I am not on his Email list.
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Oct 9, 2012

snazz

Ja criminals are very creative MOER
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