“Gay conman” returns

Marius, the silver-tongued conman, is back.

Residents in neighbouring suburbs have raised concerns following the reappearance of a man dubbed the “gay conman”.

In Edenvale alone, he has previously identified himself as Marius Roos and Marius Banjies.

In July last year, the conman targeted a family in Eastleigh Ridge.

He introduced himself as Marius Banjies and claimed he was their new, gay neighbour, who while coordinating weddings, also suffered from leukaemia.

According to the family, who asked to remain anonymous, Marius said he had moved into a property three houses away.

After he told the family he had accidentally locked himself out of his house, he said he needed to call his mother who had spare keys to the property.

He then convinced the family he needed R500 for petrol money and would return the money that evening.

The family later found out that Marius had not only swindled them out of their hard-earned money, he had also taken several items from their home.

He also did not stay at the property he claimed to have moved into.

In November last year, Marius hit again, this time with the surname Roos, and targeted an elderly couple in Edenvale.

After conning the retirees out of R400, he even warned them to be careful of “crooks” who target elderly residents.

Mrs Stephanie De Beer said Marius had told her husband that his partner was a doctor at Arwyp Hospital in Kempton Park.

Again he asked to use the couple’s phone as he had accidentally locked himself out of his home down the road, while installing security gates.

He needed to call his mother to bring him spare keys.

“Apparently his mother could not come out and he would have to fetch the keys from her. I asked him why he did not contact his partner and he replied that he was operating on a patient,” said Mrs De Beer.

Mr Jan De Beer offered to assist and asked how much money he needed.

Marius replied that he would need R500.

Mrs De Beer said the couple only had R250 with them, but eventually Mr De Beer handed the conman R400.

Before he left, he warned the elderly couple to be cautious of “crooks”.

He was never seen again.

In the most recent con, Marius, who claimed his surname was Stander, targeted an elderly Primrose couple.

“He is a smooth talker and told us he lived down the road,” said Mrs Christine Woods, another victim.

He told the couple he was a gay, wedding dress designer and needed R600 in order for him to go to Pretoria to deliver a dress which would then be sent to London.

Following the latest incident, the Edenvale SAPS issued a warning.

“If the man is operating in our neighbouring suburbs, it is only a matter of time before he comes back to Edenvale,” said the acting spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts.

He urged all residents to be alert.

“Do not fall for this man’s sob story. He has previously conned residents in Benoni, Kempton Park, Germiston and Bedfordview,” said Lt Col Roberts.

He added that anyone who is approached by this man must contact the Edenvale SAPS sector police vehicles immediately.

•  Edenvale residents living or working in Marais Steyn Park, Dowerglen, Dunvegan, Elma Park or part of the Avenues from Horwood Street to Hendrik Potgieter Street fall under Sector 1. The Edenvale Hospital and Sizwe Hospital also fall under Sector 1. Sector 1 vehicle contact numbers are 071 675 6840 and 071 675 6841.
•  Edenvale residents living or working in Greenstone, Eastleigh, Illiondale, De Klerk’s Hof and part of the Avenues from Hendrik Potgieter Street to Aitken Road, fall under Sector 2. Sector 2 vehicle contact numbers are 071 675 6842 and 071 675 6843.
•  Edenvale residents living or working in Isandovale, Harmelia, Highway Gardens, Edenglen or Hurlyvale fall under Sector 3. Sector 3 vehicle contact numbers are 071 675 6844 or 071 675 6845.

Side Bar

If Marius the conman successfully targets three households out of R500 each day, he can make R30 000 each month.If he does this for a year, he would have swindled R360 000 from unsuspecting victims.