NEWCASTLE – Are scam artists preying on business owners?
After Nel Vuyk, owner of Waste Salvaging Recycling, received an odd letter asking for her company’s full details for an Internet directory or it would be removed, it would seem so.
Read: Newcastle residents targeted: Avoid becoming victim of scam
“I received the letter on Monday, January 30, but I have never asked for my company details to be put or removed anywhere.”
What actually tweaked her suspicions, was that apart from an email address, there were no contact details, or a telephone number of the sender.
“My computer’s antivirus software also won’t allow me to go onto the website the letter suggests I go to.”
The message conveyed in the letter was that once the information was submitted, Ms Vuyk would receive an annual bill for R9 372.
The amount, and the lack of contact details were not the only aspects of the letter Ms Vuyk found suspicious.
“The postage shows that the letter apparently comes from Czechoslovakia, while the return address is in Germany. The logo on the letter is South African. It is all very suspicious.”
Ms Vuyk believes she is not the only person targeted by the sender, and is cautioning others not to disclose their details to any stranger.
Police Communication Liaison and Marketing spokesperson, Lizzy Arumugam, said while the police were not aware of this form of scam, the use of the Internet by scamsters was prevalent.
Attempted fraud or fraud can be reported to Captain S.M. Khumalo from SAPS Newcastle Fraud Division on 034 314 6210.
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