Locals allegedly duped in scam

NELSPRUIT – It seems as if several Lowvelders may have fallen prey to a con artist. These victims were promised they could make tons of money through trading in stock, but were left without the promised product after having paid the suspect.

Mr André Engelbrecht of Sabie and Mr Gideon Broodryk of Hazyview were approached by a consultant only known as Christiaan of the Tenacity Capital Group (TCG). He sold them computer software with which they wanted to trade on the JSE.

Engelbrecht, Broodryk and several other customers each purchased Optimal Market Systems at R1 000.

The contract stated that R225 was to be paid monthly for the period they would use the product.

They agreed to pay the full amount at an interest rate of 15,5 per cent, on a monthly basis and signed the debit order. Engelbrecht and Broodryk made their first payments and were supposed to receive their sealed packages containing the software, but this never happend.

According to Broodryk, he was under the impression that Christiaan had forgotten to deliver the package. He phoned TCG to enquire, and a man known only as Wimpie told them the software actually cost R20 950.

Broodryk attempted to cancel his contract, but Wimpie said it wasn’t necessary and offered him a new one. Broodryk again entered into an agreement, this time with an instalment of R500 per month. Two days after the first instalment was paid another R4 000 was withdrawn from his account by the company without his authorisation. Engelbrecht had a similar problem, but in his case a total of about R20 000 was taken.

After contacting the company again, the victims were told that the money would be repaid, but this was never done.

TCG promised Broodryk and Engelbrecht a 40 per cent return on their investments and a daily SMS to assist them in the process.

Engelbrecht also explained that, in order to supposedly protect both seller and purchaser, there was an agreement subject to a cooling-off period of five working days, from the date of signature.

A customer could also cancel his purchase during this time. These consumers attempted to cancel their contracts at TCG’s head office in Pretoria, but were unable to do so because either none of the consultants were able to assist them, or phones would ring without being answered.

Since last Thursday Lowvelder has tried numerous times to obtain a satisfactory explanation from the company.

TCG have not commented on the allegations, despite being offered numerous opportunities to do so. The people answering the phones offered various excuses ranging from being unable to comment on the complaints, to their landlines being faulty or said they would phone back, which they never did.

Any other victims can contact Mr Gideon Broodryk 082-922-9970.