A Centurion couple were left traumatised after being taken hostage and robbed by “phony policemen” they tried to sell their car to.
Suzette Meyer (52) and her husband Willie (62) had advertised their Nissan X-Trail on a popular local classifieds website to which a man responded.
Little did they know they were in for a nasty surprise.
“The man who responded to our ad asked if we would come through to Vanderbijlpark so that he can go with us to the bank and pay for the car,” said Suzette.
She said the man claimed to be a truck driver from Namibia to whom coming to the couple presented a problem. He offered cash for the vehicle, then he will drive his truck home to Namibia then return to collect the vehicle seven days later.
Suzette said this arrangement struck her as reasonable so she arranged to meet the man in a public place in Vanderbijlpark but he then changed the meeting place at the last minute.
“At the new location, he called another party to ask if his money was ready because he needed it to pay for the car.
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“The man asked us if we could drive him around the corner to get the money.”
Still not suspecting anything, Suzette acceded to the man’s request. Around the corner, the couple picked up an Indian man who exchange diamonds for was said to be R960 000.
“My heart was pounding with fear,” said Suzette
The supposed “buyer” then asked to be taken to a nearby house where the cash would be handed over to them.
“At this time I was petrified and just wanted this whole thing to go away.”
After driving around for about an hour, they stopped at a dilapidated house where she and her husband were asked to accompany the man and his associate inside.
Suzette declined and stayed in the car while her husband went in.
“Only a few seconds later a group of men claiming to be the police and flashing laminated ID cards surrounded my car and ordered me into the house.”
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The “police” accused the couple of smuggling drugs after the man had told them they were all together.
She said they denied but the “policemen” threatened them with arrest and New Year’s day in jail.
“The fake police officers wanted to know how much money we had to bribe them with. I said I didn’t have a lot on me. They insisted however that I must phone family members and ask them for money – or we would be taken to the police station.”
Two officers ordered Suzette into the car demanding she withdraw money at a nearby ATM while the other officers stayed behind with her husband.
At the ATM, they forced her to give up her bank card and PIN.
“They cleaned out my bank account,” she said adding by then it was clear they had been set up and the men weren’t policemen.
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They took our cellphones, Willie’s jewellery and four thin gold bangles,” she said adding the bangles had sentimental value and could not be replaced as they had been gifted to her by her daughter who died in 2013.
“I just kept praying and asking God to spare me so that I can bring up my babies and be with them until they are all grown up. My wish was granted and I believe that God gave us the right words to say that kept the thugs calm through this terrible ordeal.”
On their return to Willie, Suzette said the robbers told her to take Willie then leave.
“The public has a right to know about scammers,” said a relieved Suzette.
“They must not fall for every story being told on the Internet.”
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