Elderly Mokopane couple falls for cheap smoke screen
After two elderly residents tried helping a 'hungry man on the street' through buying his cigarettes, they were left with some boxes filled with soil and others empty.
MOKOPANE – The resident, who would like to stay anonymous, says he always try to find out where he can buy cheap cigarettes. “Someone told me there is a place near Mohammedy’s in Dudu Madisha Drive which sells cigarettes for very cheap. Upon my arrival, there was a guy on the street who said he is selling cigarettes at a good price because he is hungry. I smoke Voyager Gold, but to help him out I bought Peter Stuyvesant and Dunhill cigarettes from him for R150. When I eventually opened up the sealed packs of cigarettes, there were only soil inside the top packed box and the rest were totally empty.”
He further said that it is shocking how fraudsters trick people into buying their goods. “I do not care about the money I lost as much, but I want people to open their eyes. Do not buy anything from the streets, but rather in a trusted shop? There are desperate people out there trying to rob you.”
Sgt. Irene Masingi, Media Liaison Officer at Mokopane SAPS, says the police do not advise anyone to buy anything off the streets. This sort of scams has been with us for a long time. We advise people to buy products in the store where you can receive a till slip. That way, when there is something wrong with the product, you can return it.”
