A Tzaneen businessman lost thousands of Rand after falling for an alleged scam when he was looking to buy a motor vehicle. At the end of November, Gary Kenney (62), owner of Precision Marine, lost more than R250 000 when he reacted to an advertisement by a car dealership, General Motors in Westville in KwaZulu-Natal. He was interested in purchasing a 2020 Ford Ranger double cab diesel automatic bakkie. “I saw the advertisement on Facebook and checked the comments on their posts. I did not come across any negative comments, so I assumed that they were above board.

“I first paid R105 000 of the purchase price of R210 000. They then told me that if I paid the full amount, my car would be delivered within 24 hours. Me being naïve, I deposited another R105 000. “The next day they told me that the man who was supposed to deliver the car, unfortunately, had an accident and that the car that I had bought was damaged. “They said they have another car which is more expensive than the first one. They asked me if I would pay an additional R40 000, which I did. Once I have test-driven the car another outstanding amount was due. “I was then called by the company asking that I pay an amount of R5 300 for delivery of the car. But the contract I signed, said that delivery was free since I paid the full amount. Realising that something is not right, he went to his bank.

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“I asked them to check the account number. After they investigated they found that the money has already transferred to another account upon which the bank froze the alleged scammers’ account.” Realising that their account was frozen, the alleged scammers begged him to ask his bank to unfreeze their account, “so that they will be able to deliver my car”. “I told them that they have to first deliver my car, only then I will ask the bank to unfreeze their account,” Kenney told the Herald. He was then contacted by another delivery company demanding R20 000 to make the delivery. He was also told that if he did not pay the R20 000, he would have to pay storage fees. “I spoke to three different people from the dealership and each had their own explanation of why there was a delay in delivering my car. I pleaded with them to either give back my money or deliver the car.”

He has opened a case against the alleged scammers and had to incur further costs to pay his lawyer to represent him. “I had to sell my boat to be able to pay the lawyer and another amount added on to the R40 000. They sent me numerous messages telling me different stories. They also sent me a video and a picture of the car, but I am really not sure if that is the car since I have not physically seen it,” he added. Kenney provided the Herald with the documentation and recorded conversations he had with the alleged scammers. “The physical address that they gave me showed a collapsed building online. “When I asked about that they told me that they are opposite the collapsed building.

I was so naïve to believe everything that they told me, they are very good at convincing people. “I also tried to comment on their Facebook page, but it was deleted and I was blocked from commenting. “I just want people to be aware and not trust just anyone. There are evil people out there targeting innocent people,” he added. Letaba Herald contacted the company. They initially answered the call, but upon realising that they were talking to a newspaper, they ended the call and despite numerous attempts, did not answer.