An airtime scammer, who has operated over the years under several names, has resurfaced in Middelburg, preying on vulnerable jobseekers who recently advertised in the Middelburg Observer classifieds.

This week, Piet Matlou was swindled out of the last money he had set aside for taxi fare. “I was lucky to lose only R12 airtime, but he initially wanted R400!” Piet said.

Job offers that never existed

Two weeks ago, Piet and his friend Deborah Mthimunye each placed adverts in the Observer classifieds stating that they were looking for work.

Deborah, who previously worked for three years as a general worker at a private hospital, advertised for domestic work. Piet appealed for general employment.

Deborah was excited when ‘Uncle Jan’ phoned her with what sounded like a legitimate job offer in Aerorand, promising R3 500 per month. He told her he would fetch her in the Middelburg CBD.

She waited for hours as he repeatedly phoned with excuses for running late. Eventually, he asked her to buy water and airtime for him. When she refused, saying she had no income, his phone was switched off.

‘I only had R20 left’

Around the same time, Piet received a call from the same man, offering him R650 per day. He was instructed to wait at the same location in town.

After hours in the sun, the scammer asked him to buy R400 airtime. Piet explained he only had R20 and needed taxi fare back to Doornkop. Shockingly, the man agreed to accept R12 airtime instead.

Piet transferred it. The promised employer never arrived.

The two later realised they had both been contacted by the same individual.

A long history of deception

The Observer has reported on the so-called ’airtime thief’ numerous times over the years.

His scam typically involves contacting businesses or individuals, requesting services at his alleged ‘farm Vergelegen’, and then asking for airtime while the victim is en route, promising repayment.

In other cases, he has targeted charities with fake donation offers and even contacted a funeral parlour claiming there was a body to collect, only to attempt the same airtime request.

Several years ago, a security company traced one of the cell phone numbers to a man serving a life sentence in prison. Although he was later transferred to another prison facility, the scam resumed.

How he continues to obtain victims’ contact details remains unclear.

Warning to jobseekers

Piet and Deborah are now urging others to be cautious.

“If someone offers you a job but asks for airtime, it’s a scam,” they warned.

In a previous incident, a man rushed to the Observer offices after receiving a similar call. When a journalist attempted to speak to the caller, the scammer immediately switched off his phone.

Residents are urged not to transfer airtime or money to unknown callers under any circumstances.