Ripped off for lawyers’ fees by ‘loan firm’

A WOMAN who wanted a loan to clear her debt lost more money to alleged scammers claiming to be working for a cash-loan company.

The scammers claimed to be from Bruma Finance, which is a legitimate company offering loans in Joburg. They promised to help desperate people with loans, but asked them to pay lawyers’ fees to help process the documents.

One of the victims, Mmamosidi Shawe, 49, of Soweto, said she and her husband had financial difficulties when she received a promotional SMS on her cellphone from Bruma Finance.

Shawe called the number and spoke to a woman who identified herself as Amanda, asking for a R40 000 loan to settle all her debts. She was sent the necessary paperwork bearing Bruma Finance’s name, which she filled in. To her surprise, she was told to pay R1 500 before she could get the loan.

“They said they work with lawyers and would need it to pay them before releasing the money. I thought maybe the lawyers were the ones who had helped me secure the funds. As I did not have money, I asked a friend to lend me R1 500,” Shawe said.

The money was deposited on August 2, but a few days later Shawe received another message requesting a further R900 administration fee before the R40 000 could be released.

The message also indicated that Shawe and her husband would be expected to make a repayment of R1 776.25 a month for two years; that the total repayment would be R42 630; and that the total interest they would be charged would be R1 262.90.

Shawe borrowed the R900 and paid, but said she was given the run-around when she was supposed to get the loan. “Amanda was rude and seemed annoyed when I called asking about the loan. She kept saying I did not pay even when I sent the proof,” Shawe said.

She and her husband never got the loan. Her brother, Richard Nkutha, was told by Absa that the account belonged to a K Mtshazi in the Eastern Cape.

The Star found others who had taken to the internet to complain and then called the alleged scammers a few times. A woman who identified herself as Amanda answered, but hung up.

Victims can lodge complaints with the National Credit Regulator at complaints@.ncr.org.za or call 0860 627 627.