Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Beware of predatory scammers
SINCE the pandemic began social media has become a common platform on which we keep in touch while adhering to social distance regulations. However, scammers have become craftier at defrauding people in their most vulnerable state.
Private investigator Willem van Romburgh said scammers have developed new skillsets to reel people in. Ranging from algorithm spyware on computers to just prey on ordinary people, online Facebook scams have become even more frequent.
During lockdown, Didi Divine started a small business in which she stocks eggs in bulk and then sells them. Due to financial constraints, her husband could not travel to get the eggs so she resorted to other avenues, that is when she came across Maphanda Poultry.
“I saw their advert on Facebook selling twelve crates of eggs, with 30 eggs each. I took their WhatsApp number, added them and spoke to them. I even asked questions, and they answered accordingly. Just to be sure, I even asked if they were not a scam as I'm going send R1 560 to people I don't know, so they said if I don’t trust them then I should not buy. Nevertheless I went ahead with the purchase, they sent me an invoice and from there I thought they were legitimate.
“After I sent my proof of payment they asked for an additional cost of insurance for my purchase at the cost of R900, that's when I asked for my money back. But it was too late, they blocked me from all social media platforms, never answered or returned my calls.
“I was so heartbroken as I took our last money to get stock, hoping I'll save even more because I'm not going to struggle anymore as they will deliver to my doorstep.
“Even the banks couldn't help trace the payments, no result came from that ordeal and I just wish these people are found and are brought to book,” said Divine.
Maphanda Poultry did not comment by the time of going to print.
Catherine Rodgers runs an online business and has a team of resellers who sell products for her. After getting into contact with a seller, Rodgers found her products to be legitimate, so she carried on with the transactions.
Rogers said the seller had her own import business and had approached her by saying she could get the PlayStation 5 combos online from the USA. The seller seemed legitimate, but once she started to check up on the business name and looking for the company registration, she found the company had been liquidated somewhere in 2010.
“The last signatory member did not match the person signing the documents that were sent. I then received a tracking number that was linked to a website but it turned out the website was not clean. When I tried to track them, the contact info and address said it was based in the UK but she was getting stock from the US.”