AN electricity scamster’s circuit was cut short after making a return to the Malvern area in search of his next victims.
As reported recently, electricity scamsters have been having a field day in Malvern and surrounding areas. The method in these cases is the same, making pensioners in their late seventies and early eighties targets.
The scamster revisited a particular house that he had frequented a few weeks prior. However, this time, the owner of the house recognised him and his trademark pair of ‘ultra-shiny’ shoes. The owner then quickly called Malvern police and told them what had transpired.
The scamster tried getting rid of his evidence in a nearby bush, but was found by officers W/O Rani John and Sgt Basil Munsamy, who had responded to the scene. He was brought to the station and after an investigation and charged, and has appeared in court.
The scams work like this: a female contacts the victim telephonically and informs them of a new product on the market that, once installed on the premises, will result in no electricity bills payable at the end of the month. The phonecall is then followed up by a visit to the premises by the Indian man, who then accepts a cheque, swipes a credit card on his handheld device or takes cash for the purported miracle device that obviates the electricity bill.
Thereafter, he vanishes and is never heard from again.
Detectives at the SAPS in Malvern appeal to anyone who might have had a similar experience to contact W/O Paul de Waal on 031 489 9629 or call Crime Stop on 086 001 0111.
