Another elderly Benoni resident has come forward claiming she was swindled out of R35 000 after a woman tasked with distributing “goodwill” vouchers approached her.

On February 10, the Benoni City Times reported that two residents of an independent living complex for the elderly in Rynfield were swindled out of nearly R13 000 by a man and woman claiming to represent the Benoni Baptist Church.

Pastor Mark Penrith of the church in Farrarmere issued a statement urging management and staff of old age homes, retirement villages and independent living complexes for the elderly to protect residents against scammers.

Penrith condemned the incident, which targeted the city’s most vulnerable residents.

At the time, the suspects were reported to be travelling in a grey Nissan hatchback and a white Ford Puma with false number plates.

Another victim identified

A caregiver, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted the City Times this week, stating that the 80-year-old woman in her care fell victim to the scam on January 7.

In a sworn affidavit submitted to Absa’s fraud department and seen by the City Times, the victim said she was approached by the suspect, described as an Indian woman, and her daughter, about five years old, in the lounge of a Rynfield-based retirement village.

“The victim suffers from early-onset dementia and is, therefore, trusting and receptive to friendly company. The suspect offered to walk her to her unit to gift her with vouchers, which she said were from the Gift of the Givers,” said the caregiver.

“Once at the pensioner’s home, the woman handwrote a R500 voucher on a standard carbon copy invoice book that she said could be used at Pick n Pay or Dischem.

“The little girl provided her with an envelope and a hand-made R300 ‘Spur voucher’ adorned with stickers. To activate the voucher, the victim had to supply a four-digit PIN.”

The con

It is alleged that the victim was collected from the retirement facility three days later, on January 10, at 10:00, by the alleged well-meaning woman and her driver to attend to business at the Absa Northmead Square. The pair were travelling in a silver Honda, registration HY42RTGP.

“I had arranged to take the victim to the bank on the same day and was horrified to learn that she had left with an unknown individual,” said the caregiver.

“After numerous unanswered calls and the on-site security being notified, the victim was dropped off at another entrance to the facility. She had four packets of cigarettes, R16.10 in change and a till slip from a liquor outlet in her possession.

“Her three bank cards were missing, as well as her SIM card.”

The cards were immediately reported as stolen, and the bank’s fraud department was notified.

It is alleged that transfers were made from the victim’s account on January 7, 8 and 9, amounting to R35 000.

Friends of the victim, who had unknowingly been communicating with her via WhatsApp at the time, reported receiving messages from her number asking for financial help.

These messages were seen by the City Times.

The publication contacted various local old-age homes and retirement villages regarding this growing trend.

The Methodist Homes Eddy House confirmed that the alleged swindler was recently denied access to the home, while The Old People’s Home said she had targeted the facility on February 14 last year.

Requests for comment were sent to the Benoni SAPS as well as the retirement village in question, but none were received at the time of publication.

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