‘Street-wise’ scam artists prowl Dundee CBD
"He was talking so fast and assured me that this would not cost me money but was a service, so I was quite happy."
A local woman found herself ‘browbeaten’ into what she thought was an opportunity to qualify for free groceries, instead ending up with a monthly debit order of around R260 for legal aid.
The victim, who did not want to be named, said that she and her father-in-law were parked in Victoria Street across from the taxi rank, dropping off staff, when they were approached by a young man dressed in a black T-shirt. He started talking to her.
“I was in the passenger seat and this guy was giving this sales spiel, telling me I could qualify for free groceries, monthly, worth about R300.
“He persuaded me to hand over my Capitec bank card, which he checked on a handheld device to see if I qualified.
“When he said ‘yes, you do qualify’, others – also dressed in the same black-styled T-shirts – started cheering for me,” she told the Courier.
“He was talking so fast and assured me that this would not cost me money but was a service, so I was quite happy.”
However, her happiness turned to anger about 20 minutes later when she received an SMS confirming that she had signed up for Legal Sure with a monthly debit order of around R260.
“I immediately called the number that came with the SMS and the lady from Legal Sure said there was no scheme giving away free groceries. The sales team only sell legal insurance and that this guy was lying. Unfortunately, I did not even get his name, but I warn others not to be scammed like me.”
A call to Legal Sure verified the fact that the man was operating illegally. Capitec Bank was also called and the debit order cancelled. A charge of fraud has been opened.
The Courier has received similar complaints of pedestrians being conned in the Shoprite Centre and in other parts of the CBD.
