LIMPOPO – Samuel Mashiane has been scammed out of his car.
Mashiane was in the process of selling his black Renault Clio hatchback when one of the fraudsters approached him under the pretense of buying the car.
He said the man, who introduced himself as Thapelo Motaung from Lebowakgomo, told him he wanted to buy the car, but first needed to inspect it.
“I unsuspectingly showed him the car and he said he was willing to buy it. He then called another man, whom he said was his father, who claimed to be in Groblersdal at the time.
“The man I spoke to on the phone identified himself as Thabang. He promised he would deposit the money, R42 000, right away. I went to the nearest ATM and the money he promised to deposit reflected on my account a few moments later. I gave the car to the man I was with seeing that the money was deposited into my account,” Mashiane explained.
He added that when he visited the bank the following Saturday (10 October), he learned the deposit made to his account was later cancelled.
“I was shocked. The bank told me I would get a message on my cellphone informing about the cancellation after seven days. I called the men under the pretense of enquiring when they would come to fetch the ownership documents and they said they would come that Monday.
“I did not raise an alarm over the cancelled transaction. But they never showed up that Monday. Now the cellphone is not even working and my car is gone.”
A case of fraud was opened and investigations are underway. Anyone with information can contact 061 079 3653 or (013) 262 8371 or the nearest police station.
