Con artists target pensioners too

Madam – Con artists.

On the go, not just vehicles, women as well. I am a female pensioner, 72 years old, and live alone in a double story flat in Hutten Heights. My sympathy to the pensioner who, after unlocking his car, saw a woman get in and was offered a trip somewhere private by the same woman who exposed her breasts and partially pulled his pants down, then taking his cell, screamed rape; vehicle surrounded by other women.

He was forced to pay hundreds for his cell and then R2 000 demanded for the alleged rape! Who was raping who?

My experience:

I required a housemaid and looked in our Newcastle Advertiser who kindly take “employment wanted”. I phoned a lady who came for an interview with her daughter. The daughter wanted work. While I interviewed mother down in the sitting room, supplying tea and cake, she sent daughter up to my bedroom to vacuum the carpet, clean bath and shower room.

I never gave it a thought that I was about to be robbed; they spoke English and appeared neat and clean. After half an hour, the daughter came down full of smiles, to say ‘work complete’. I then treated her to tea and cake and promised to phone when she was to start work.

To me they appeared honest and desperate for work. What a shock I got when I went to my bedroom where I keep my money in a purse together with my ID book, credit cards as well, only to find R1 000 cash gone plus my ID book and credit cards!

My discovery was too late to inform the police as they (the culprits) had vanished. I thank our Newcastle Advertiser for the story but I blame myself for trusting so much. I thank our police, because you would have, if you could have had time to apprehend.

To other pensioners, some advice: don’t trust too much!

Concerned