EDITOR – I am responding to a recent article Apartment scam costs victim.
I just want to let you know that I was also a victim of an apartment scam. In May, I saw an advert on Gumtree; 1 bedroom apartment at Windermere Centre for R3500pm. So I called and Thomas answered, I told him I wanted the apartment and his response was that he can’t keep the apartment for me, he works on a first come first serve basis. He asked me to complete an application form and once it’s approved I would have to deposit the full amount into his account, then only could he reserve the apartment.
Me, being desperate did not think, filled in the application form and did an internet transfer of R3500, only half the requested amount, into Mr T Made’s Standard Bank account. The next morning I tried contacting Mr Made as we had made a 9am appointment to meet at the flat so that I could pay him the balance of the money and get the keys for the flat.
I tried calling him the whole day and he did not answer my calls. The next day he missed called me.I called him and he told me that he had car problems and apologised that he could not make the meeting. We made another arrangement to meet in the afternoon. I got to Windermere Centre and the guards told me there where no flats to let there. I tried calling Mr Made and he did not answer my calls.
I though this was suspicious so I went into my bank to put a stop on the transfer of funds. They could not help me and I had to fill out a “recall” which cost R350 and this would not guarantee me getting my money back. Since then I have not heard from Mr Made. My money is gone and it’s my fault. I just want to advise people to be aware of these types of fraudsters.
Nishan Girdharie
Berea
