Victims of loan scam pay up front

A WOMAN who wanted a loan to clear her debt lost more money to alleged scammers from a cash-loan company.

The alleged scammers claimed to be from Bruma Finance, a legitimate company offering loans in Joburg. It promises to help desperate people with loans, but asks them to pay lawyers’ fees to help process the documents.

One of the victims, Mmamosidi Shawe, 49, of Soweto, said 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. She asked for a R40 000 loan to settle all her debts and 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 they 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.

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.”

She and her husband never got the loan. Another victim claims to have paid R1 000 but was asked to pay another R1 500. When he asked why, the phone was put down.

Bruma Finance did not respond to an e-mail, but has a message on its website saying it is aware of the scam and would never “ask consumers to pay exorbitant fees to ensure the loan gets approved”.

Lebogang Selibi, of the National Credit Bureau, said it was a contravention of the Act and that victims could lodge complaints with the bureau at complaints@.ncr.org.za or call 0860 627 627.