Ballito home advertised in ‘holiday house’ scam

A Ballito woman was shocked to discover her property being advertised as a rental holiday home last week.

The home owner, who asked not to be named, received several calls from friends and family saying her house in Kudu Road was on OLX and Gumtree available for holiday accommodation.

“Everyone was asking if my home was up for rent and I went to check the adverts out. My address and details of the house were listed but the photograph attached is not of our house,” she said.

The ad, which is still on OLX, describes a home on the ‘Dolphine Coast’ with views of the Pacific Ocean.

She was then contacted by someone who had been about to pay a deposit to rent out the home, who provided correspondence between her and ‘B Dyanti’ – the contact person for the advertised rental.

In the emails Dyanti agrees to accept a fee of R2000 per night with a R500 breakage fee for the home, referred to as the The Ballito Beachfront Villa.

Dyanti also denies permission to view the property.

An invoice was then issued, which lists the home’s address and states payment must be made within 48 hours or the booking would be cancelled.

“I called Dyanti on the details attached to the advert and he insisted he knew nothing about the ad. I told him we would be opening a case of fraud and the ad has since disappeared off Gumtree,” said the owner.

When the Courier called the number a man with a foreign accent provided details of the home, but said Dyanti was not available.

He said he works with Dyanti and would give him a message.

“Home owners on the North Coast must be alert, it appears our properties are being targeted ,” said the Ballito homeowner.