Con artist targets non-profits

A FRAUDSTER is back doing the rounds, targeting local non-profit organisations and purporting to look for referrals of social workers who may need employment.

First surfacing during the Covid-19 pandemic, promising jobs in the health sector, the man who goes by the name of Mr Zulu or Mr Biyela claimed he could secure jobs for social workers at local hospitals.

LifeLine Zululand director, Michelle Jewlal said the con artist has resurfaced and has been using her name to try and scam unemployed social workers out of thousands of rands.

'His modus operandi is to contact the organisation, request contact details of individuals who might need employment and then imply he is friends with the head of the organisation to ensure he gets the database he has requested.

'He is very well spoken and has immense knowledge about grant opportunities for non-profit organisations and Department of Social Development (DSD) funding, so it would be easy to fall into the trap of handing over the information he is requesting without checking first.

'We advise other organisations not to fall victim to this as he is looking for people to scam.

'We set up one staff member to contact him and he wanted a cash deposit of R7 000 via a bank money transfer to seal the deal, and we told him he is a fraud.

'With the unemployment rate so high and many desperate to find work, we do not want community members to fall victim to scams where they are asked to pay for jobs.'