VANDERBIJLPARK – Parents always go the extra mile to make their children’s birthday wishes a dream come through.
But for two parents, getting their kids lifelike dolls has left them in big trouble.
This comes after Turestè Beukes and Yolandi Du Plessis got scammed by a Vaal-based woman who claims to import and sell these expensive reborn dolls.
Soon after paying a deposit for the purchase, the alleged scammer will vanish. According to reports she borrows lump sums of money for several needs such as food and electricity.
Gullible buyers remain unpaid to this day since September, and the dolls, are a pipedream.
Speaking to Ster, Beukes explained how she crossed paths with the scammer and how the transaction backfired.
“My daughter collects lifelike dolls and had enough saving money to buy a new doll. I found Marlize van Huyssteen on Facebook where she advertises on Marketplace.
“We spoke on WhatsApp and she told me that she orders the dolls from abroad and then she sends out the dolls via courier to the buyer. I searched her name, account, and number on Facebook to see if she was legit. Nothing came up and I decided to trust her.”
Following her verification process, Beukes went ahead and ordered a doll.
“I made a payment of R1 800 to Marlize, the courier service was include in the amount. She also sent her ID to me saying that she is aware of scammers and wants me to feel at ease,” Beukes explained.
Just like any other scammer who is done luring her victims, Marlize started borrowing money for her personal things.
According to Beukes, Marlize begged for food and electricity among other things.
“Following the transaction, Marlize asked for R250. Later during the month, I called her to enquire about the doll, and she told me she used the money and made an arrangement to pay me back, which she never did.”
When seeking assistance from the police in opening a criminal case, Beukes was turned away without help.
“Failing to get assistance from the police, I contacted the bank and handed their Capitec account numbers over to the fraud department and I was given a case number,” she said.
Yolandi, who is another scammed client, said: “On September 6 it was my daughter’s birthday. I reached out to Marlize and she offered to help find a doll for my daughter. I paid her R1 600 for the doll, which till this day I have never received.”
Yolandi said she was since blocked by Marlize on all social media platforms.
Mooivaal tried to seek comment from Marlize, however efforts to reach her didn’t materialise.
At the time of going to print, Capitec Bank had not responded to enquires forwarded to them.
