Pensioner scam targeting retired government employees now in another province
FREE State police have called on the public to be aware of a syndicate targeting retired government employees and retrenched mineworkers.
Police spokesman Captain Stephen Thakeng said the suspects were targeting pensioners in Klerksdorp, Rustenburg, Kroonstad, Welkom, Virginia, Hennenman and Odendaalsrus.
Yesterday Welkom police arrested three members of the syndicate.
The men were part of a group of five men who allegedly swindled a retired woman of R52,000 last month. The woman had been employed by Matjhabeng municipality.
On April 16 she was approached by the men at her house.
They told her they had uncovered corruption in the municipality regarding her pension payout. They said she had been cheated of an amount of R340,000.
Thakeng said the complainant fell for the ruse and followed their instructions.
"The suspects then asked her to pay an administration fee of R2,000. They later returned and asked the complainant to pay an additional R50,000 for them to complete their work in eradicating corruption in the municipality. They promised to give her feedback within seven days.
"And that was the last time she saw the men.
"A week after the men had disappeared with her money, the elderly woman became suspicious and reported the matter to us," Thakeng said.
Three of the five suspects were arrested in Welkom after intensive investigations. Two other suspects are still on the run.
The men are expected to appear in court soon on charges of fraud.
Police have called on other victims of the syndicate to come forward.
- ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za
Warning after woman duped out of R52,000
Pensioner scam targeting retired government employees now in another province
FREE State police have called on the public to be aware of a syndicate targeting retired government employees and retrenched mineworkers.
Police spokesman Captain Stephen Thakeng said the suspects were targeting pensioners in Klerksdorp, Rustenburg, Kroonstad, Welkom, Virginia, Hennenman and Odendaalsrus.
Yesterday Welkom police arrested three members of the syndicate.
The men were part of a group of five men who allegedly swindled a retired woman of R52,000 last month. The woman had been employed by Matjhabeng municipality.
On April 16 she was approached by the men at her house.
They told her they had uncovered corruption in the municipality regarding her pension payout. They said she had been cheated of an amount of R340,000.
Thakeng said the complainant fell for the ruse and followed their instructions.
"The suspects then asked her to pay an administration fee of R2,000. They later returned and asked the complainant to pay an additional R50,000 for them to complete their work in eradicating corruption in the municipality. They promised to give her feedback within seven days.
"And that was the last time she saw the men.
"A week after the men had disappeared with her money, the elderly woman became suspicious and reported the matter to us," Thakeng said.
Three of the five suspects were arrested in Welkom after intensive investigations. Two other suspects are still on the run.
The men are expected to appear in court soon on charges of fraud.
Police have called on other victims of the syndicate to come forward.
- ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za
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