A SHADY ‘thermal technology’ sales team is currently zeroing in on Scottburgh, duping unsuspecting pensioners out of thousands without batting an eyelid. There have been reports of the syndicate operating up and down the coast for months.
Call centre people who introduce themselves as ‘Elvis’ and ‘Shirley’ tell their targets they represent Eskom. They then claim that they are distributing ‘instant electrical water heaters’ that will save consumers thousands in electricity costs. And even better, Eskom will re-imburse them for the outlay.They then set up an appointment for their ‘technicians’ to asses electricity usage at the residence.
The smiling salesman arrives and introduces himself as an employee of a company called United Thermal Technology, ‘an associate company of Eskom’. He then delivers a well rehearsed sales patter with the promise that once these products have been purchased and installed, Eskom will subsidise the purchase and reimburse the clients. The scamster then whips out a point-of-sale device and does the credit or debit card transaction then and there.
One elderly Scottburgh resident said he had been sold two products for R14 000. His grand-daughter was horrified and started to investigate. She discovered the business details and telephone number were false. Another pensioner paid R4500 for the same products.
Captain Vincent Pandarum from the Scottburgh SAPS said they are investigating various cases of fraud following purchases of solar heating equipment from the company, items that can be purchased online for a few rands. Eskom has also warned that they have no connection to this company at all.
The public has been warned not to sign purchase and sales agreements without first reading the terms and conditions, nor to pay for goods without first checking the quality of the product and validity of the sales pitch.
