An elderly couple from Pinetown, KZN, is left shattered after losing R500 000 to a woman posing as a police detective in an elaborate scam.

Donald Bristol (87) told the Highway Mail he received a call from a woman introducing herself as Detective Mudalay from the SAPS. She claimed his bank cards had been cloned and needed to visit him personally.

“I notified security at my residential complex to allow her access. She arrived at my flat, presented herself professionally and explained the alleged card cloning issue in detail,” said Bristol.

The woman told him the case was being handled in co-ordination with the Pinetown SAPS and requested his bank debit and cheque cards, including Pins, as well as his cellphone, saying it was needed for the investigation.

“I complied with her request but never gave her my Pin. I have never used any form of online banking before,” he said.

Over the following days, the scammer contacted Bristol on his wife’s phone, instructing him not to speak to anyone as it could compromise the investigation.

On May 9, she asked him to meet her at a bank in Josiah Gumede Road to receive new bank cards and collect his cellphone. When the couple arrived, the woman called again, insisting they meet her outside but was nowhere to be found.

Inside the bank, staff checked Bristol’s account and discovered he had been defrauded, with multiple unauthorised transactions at grocery shops, liquor outlets and designer clothing stores.

When the couple reported the scam at Pinetown SAPS, they provided CCTV footage of the impersonator entering their residential complex.

More than two months later, they say they have received no assistance.

“We do not know how this woman got my contact details and address. We do not even have family in the country; my family is overseas,” said Bristol.

Pinetown SAPS communications officer Jennifer Naidu confirmed a fraud case is under investigation.

“The investigating officer has obtained video footage and met the complainant to gather further information. Police are following leads,” said Naidu.

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