A WOMAN (39), who goes under the name of ‘Anna Brandt’ or ‘Anna Carstens’, has been linked to a number of cases of fraud, or theft, on the South Coast.
The Herald was contacted and asked to warn the community about this woman’s fraudulent practices.
So far, four separate cases have been opened around the country against her. Police from KwaZulu-Natal Media Centre confirmed that one case of theft has been opened in Margate, however, no arrests have been made.
She has apparently scammed numerous people out of thousands of rands, by either renting houses and not paying the rent, or by scamming people through advertising holiday accommodation on the South Coast, apparently on facebook and other websites.
When people responded to her adverts, she would ask them to deposit money into her bank account and even send them a confirmation letter.
What followed was somewhat of a nightmare. There was no such house, and if there was, it was not up for rent, or the money was not paid over to the owner.
In some cases, she would act as a letting agent and rent out holiday homes for upcountry visitors and then fail to pay them.
In one case, she ‘disappeared’ from a house she was renting in Margate, leaving puppies behind, which died of starvation. Her car was also abandoned in the yard and she left her clothes and belongings in the house.
Various adverts have also been placed online warning people of her scams. She also apparently uses different names and other people to assist her with her schemes.
