Man conned by bogus dealer
A man (22) was scammed of R30 000 when he thought he bought a car.
Tshegofatso Ngobeni
A young man from Capital Park man was scammed of R30 000 this week when he paid a bogus dealership for a car he never received.
The 22-year-old man, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said he bought a Ford Fiesta he saw advertised on OLX.
A quotation, the dealership’s e-mail and physical addresses and banking details were sent to him.
Since he didn’t have the time to go view the car, the dealership sent someone to his house.
“Last week Saturday, a sales lady came to my house with the car. I saw it and loved it. She said the dealership would keep it for me until I paid for it,” he said.
The saleswoman was wearing a T-shirt with the dealership’s name on it.
The man said when he had enough money, he called the dealership to find out if the car was still available and was told that it was.
“The dealership said I would only get the car once I had paid, which I did with an electronic transfer. Someone said they would call me after ten minutes but did not. I called only for their phone to ring unanswered,” he said.
The man called the bank to reverse the transaction but was informed the money had been withdrawn. Realising he had been duped, he reported the fraud to the police.
“I am very disappointed because I was supposed to have a car but I don’t,” the man said.
The man said he was still in shock as the dealership seemed legitimate.
He urged others to do a background check of car dealerships before making any payment.
Hercules police spokesperson captain Bonginkosi Msimango said no arrests had been made, but an investigation was underway.
Msimango gave tips to consumers on how to avoid being a victim of fraud:
– Check the validity of an account with the bank.
– Ensure the address of the seller is public knowledge.
– Verify the account holder’s name with the bank. You could also ask the police for help before you make any payment.
– If you suspect something is wrong, call the nearest police station for guidance.
– If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
– Don’t give your account details to strangers.
– Avoid making large withdrawals at ATMs as this might attract robbers.
Also read:
Swindler strikes again with house scam
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