Alleged scam artist caught during sting operation
Nelspruit business man caught by scamster claiming to be from Mbombela council.
A man apparently pretending to be an official of Mbombela Municipality has been caught red-handed. Mr Sizwe Mthimkhulu (24) was arrested last week and appeared in court on a charge of fraud.
The victim, who did not want to be identified as he is a well-known businessman, stated that on August 1, at about 13:00, Mthimkhulu called him on his cellphone, apparently informing him that he was an investigating officer of Mbombela Local Municipality and he was investigating “tampering” of electricity consumption at his home address.
Mthimkhulu then apparently told him the penalty imposed was R47 796,60.
“I replied to him by requesting to meet him at his offices – he vehemently refused but agreed to meet me at I’langa Mall.”
The man said he then went to meet Mthimkhulu accompanied by his wife.
He apparently demanded that they pay 50 per cent of the penalty to close the matter.
The businessman scheduled a meeting and demanded that Mthimkhulu produce a letter from the municipality appointing him to the investigation and a copy of the final report that indeed somebody was tampering with his electricity usage.
He alleged that Mthimkhulu threatened to cut off his electricity before the meeting which they had set up for Wednesday
August 7, if he did not receive some of the money. The businessman then apparently relented and gave the accused R5 000 until he could carry out his own investigation.
The man went to the municipality and requested a printout of his electricity consumption and found that his balance was only R7 006, 47.
He said he then refused to answer calls from Mthimkhulu. On August 10 he reported the matter to the police. He said while he was with the police, he made a call to the accused and set up a meeting and told him he could collect the rest of the money.
The sting operation was then set up near Edgars in the CBD.
The businessman said three police officers accompanied him and as soon as the suspect appeared, they arrested him.
He said Mthimkhulu admitted to the police that he was not an employee of Mbombela Municipality, and apparently paid back the R5 000 he had taken.
“I want people to know what happened to me so they can be aware of criminals pretending to be municipal officials,” said the man.
