NELSPRUIT – An elderly woman has become the second local victim of the infamous cellphone scam syndicate. The woman who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, said she received an SMS claiming that she had won R250 000 in a Kellogg’s promotion and that she had to contact a Mr Austin on 079-032-9443 for confirmation and payment arrangements. Austin explained she had to deposit R950 into the account of Ms Bettie Hlobhe in order to cover the transaction charges.
“I didn’t think much of it as they all sounded so legitimate and I always enter competitions on the side of cereal boxes and the likes,” she said. “I was under the impression that this may have been my lucky day!”
She deposited the money the following day and was contacted by a Ms Sharon who claimed to be an accountant. Sharon said she had to contact a Ms Victoria on 079-374-6335 who would explain all the neccessary procedures to her. As was the case with the RICA promotions scam, this victim was also given a winning certificate via email and then contacted again with a request for further payment.
“I was asked to deposit another R2 850 into their account because the money was being transferred from the UK. Then I knew I was being scammed.”
Nelspruit Post contacted Sharon, the so-called accountant. She provided this journalist with a Standard Bank account number and confirmed it belonged to a Ms Sharon Loseben. She asked for a cellphone number in order to stay in touch and the paper provided her the number for the fraudsters running the RICA promotion scam. At the same time, the journo contacted the Standard Bank fraud department and reported the matter. Enquiries have also been sent to both MTN and Standard Bank.
Moments before going to press, Nelspruit Post received an anonymous tip from a former Standard Bank employee.
The source was employed at its fraud division and stated that every employee who received a cellphone contract through Standard Bank’s Hub, had the extension 083-307. In the RICA scam, the number given by the fraudsters for their accounts department was 083-307-3094.
In both cases the bank account number given to the victims was also a Standard Bank account. According to the informant, the chances that the scam is run from either inside the bank or by a former employee, are extremely likely.
“I would put my head on a block that this fraudster is either still working for the bank, or has left and is still using the contract phone.”
