BUSINESS PEOPLE in Mpumalanga have been warned against fraudsters who pretend to be prospective clients.
The warning follows numerous complaints received from business people in Piet Retief and Tonga, who have been fleeced of more than R60000 since the beginning of May.
Captain Mangozeni Nkosi of the Piet Retief police told Sowetan that several dockets had been opened after "emerging businesspeople were targeted by the fraudsters".
"They contact businesspeople by phone and ask for their services," Nkosi said.
"After accepting quotations from the businesspeople the caller asks for their banking particulars and deposits more than the amount agreed on using dummy cheques."
Nkosi said the fraudsters later call the businessperson asking that he or she refund the excess amount deposited into the account by mistake.
"If they had agreed on a deposit of R5000 he would deposit R10000. They then ask for the return of R5000.
"After confirming with the bank the unsuspecting businessperson would authorise payment.
"After seven days the bank alerts the businessperson to the fact that the deposited cheque was a dummy, by which time the fraudsters have withdrawn the cash."
He advised victims not to conduct business with strangers on the phone.
"You should insist on meeting people at public places such as filling stations, police stations and other places with cameras."
One such victim, who is involved in transport and catering, told Sowetan he was swindled of R10000 by a man who claimed to be from the department of health,.
He said he needed transport for a two-day trip for government officials from Nelspruit to Port Elizabeth.
"The man, 'Charles Maloka', called on June 10 saying R110000 was budgeted for the trip that was scheduled for the following morning. When I could not find the luxury coaches he had promised he referred me to a Moses Sibiya of Nelspruit."
Sibiya demanded R42000, payable before the buses could leave Nelspruit.
"I paid R10000 and promised to pay the balance the following day" he said.
"When I called Maloka the following morning his phone was on voice mail. I called Sibiya, who said the buses had left at 6am. Later his phone was also off."
He said a colleague had traced the number used by the fraudsters to a fax line at the health department.
Robbed by phone
BUSINESS PEOPLE in Mpumalanga have been warned against fraudsters who pretend to be prospective clients.
The warning follows numerous complaints received from business people in Piet Retief and Tonga, who have been fleeced of more than R60000 since the beginning of May.
Captain Mangozeni Nkosi of the Piet Retief police told Sowetan that several dockets had been opened after "emerging businesspeople were targeted by the fraudsters".
"They contact businesspeople by phone and ask for their services," Nkosi said.
"After accepting quotations from the businesspeople the caller asks for their banking particulars and deposits more than the amount agreed on using dummy cheques."
Nkosi said the fraudsters later call the businessperson asking that he or she refund the excess amount deposited into the account by mistake.
"If they had agreed on a deposit of R5000 he would deposit R10000. They then ask for the return of R5000.
"After confirming with the bank the unsuspecting businessperson would authorise payment.
"After seven days the bank alerts the businessperson to the fact that the deposited cheque was a dummy, by which time the fraudsters have withdrawn the cash."
He advised victims not to conduct business with strangers on the phone.
"You should insist on meeting people at public places such as filling stations, police stations and other places with cameras."
One such victim, who is involved in transport and catering, told Sowetan he was swindled of R10000 by a man who claimed to be from the department of health,.
He said he needed transport for a two-day trip for government officials from Nelspruit to Port Elizabeth.
"The man, 'Charles Maloka', called on June 10 saying R110000 was budgeted for the trip that was scheduled for the following morning. When I could not find the luxury coaches he had promised he referred me to a Moses Sibiya of Nelspruit."
Sibiya demanded R42000, payable before the buses could leave Nelspruit.
"I paid R10000 and promised to pay the balance the following day" he said.
"When I called Maloka the following morning his phone was on voice mail. I called Sibiya, who said the buses had left at 6am. Later his phone was also off."
He said a colleague had traced the number used by the fraudsters to a fax line at the health department.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos