Scammed out of R200 000
"I only transferred the money because I recognised the brand and knew it was a well-established business."
Some businesses have sign in sheets to keep track of everyone who visits them. But not Royal Motors. They do however have a scam information sheet where customers who paid deposits for vehicles they saw on the online shopping site, OLX, could write down their names and contact information because they were scammed.
The sheets contain more than 60 names of victims of scams, all duped within the previous four months.
They all have the same story: They saw a great deal for a vehicle on OLX and trusted the ad because it was registered under the name Royal Motors, a brand trusted by many.
How the scam works:
The victims make contact with the seller on OLX and because they are convinced the deal is the real McCoy, they are not afraid to pay so-called deposits into the seller’s bank account. They are then told to fetch the vehicle from Royal Motors a few days later, only to realise upon arrival they have been scammed.
“I only transferred the money because I recognised the brand and knew it was a well-established business,” said Tshebang Fereetse, a victim who was conned out of R200 000.
Fereetse claims he reported the scam to the police, but deep inside he knows he was naïve and that caused him to lose so much money.
“The bank account was removed immediately and I know that the scammers may be untraceable now.”
This is the story of many of the scam victims. They make payments, travel from places as far away as Randburg and Vereeniging, only to have their excitement spoilt by the bad news of huge financial loss when they arrive in Krugersdorp.
The deals seem to be too good to be true and in these cases, they were. The vehicles range from a 2013 BMW M135i at a record low price of R73 999, to a 2004 Toyota Hilux Legend 35 for a whopping R 80 000.
Royal Motors speaks out:
Royal Motors provided the News with copies of the documents the scammed customers brought to them to claim their vehicles. They reflect paid deposits of between R22 000 and R87 000. The customers also brought proof of payment documents indicating that the transactions were successful.
“How can customers pay money into accounts if they haven’t even seen the vehicle or taken it on a test-drive?” Joe du Plessis, manager of Royal Motors asked. “We don’t even advertise on OLX because we have our own website.”
Du Plessis claimed the scammers have gone as far as copying their slogan and using it on their fake advertisements.
“This is really bad for business. We recently contacted Carte Blanche to do a story, because it is just ridiculous how many people fall for this.”
Du Plessis warned customers not to be negligent with transferring money into bank accounts before meeting the people.
“The photos of the vehicles are not even taken on our showgrounds; the images on the fake contracts are blurred and pixelated, and there are spelling mistakes as well. We have a webpage and we urge people to contact us from our webpage or come and visit our grounds.”
OLX’s fraud and scamming policy:
As far as OLX is concerned, the company claims to be a mediator between buyers and sellers and is not responsible for any transaction. In the OLX terms of use policy, the company clearly states: “We only provide a service for transactions – we facilitate, so we are limited with what we can do in a case of fraud. Ultimately, payment, accepting the item and all other related issues are up to the buyer and seller, and their agreement. That’s why it’s best that you know how to protect yourself when buying or selling online – it’s just the smart thing to do.”
The website clearly warns every visitor to be vigilant against scammers. They give the following tips on how to identify scammers:
• If the deal seems to good to be true, it probably is. Especially if it’s advertised at a suspiciously low price.
• If the seller wants payment before sending the item, it’s probably a scam.
• If the seller asks for banking details, debit or credit card numbers or an email address – it’s probably a scam.
• If the seller doesn’t want to meet in a public place or wants to deliver the item personally, it is usually a scam.
The OLX website advises customers to only hand over the money once they’re happy with what they’re buying.
“Whatever you do, don’t buy before you try – always examine the item and then pay for it. If you suspect an ad, please click on the ‘Report item button’ on the side and follow the prompts. If you have been a victim – and we sincerely hope you weren’t – please do so as soon as you can.”
To find out more on how you can keep yourself, as a buyer, safe while using OLX, visit https://help.olx.co.za/hc/en-us/articles/204644969-How-do-I-know-if-it-s-fraud-.
More on scammers here:
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