Social media scammers target small business owners in KZN

Three small business owners have fallen victim to an elaborate scam in the Chatsworth area, where fraudsters posing as legitimate buyers have made off with goods worth thousands of rand using fake e-wallet payments.

The scammers, operating near Bangladesh Market, have developed a pattern of targeting sellers on social media platforms, leaving victims in debt and warning others to be vigilant. The victim said they were targeted on Facebook Marketplace by “interested buyers”.

Linda Ramiah, 49, of Phoenix, alleged she had been scammed by a couple named “Precious” and “Edgar”, on March 4. 

“For the first time, I posted an advert on the Marketplace, selling an original brand of fabric softener. I also sell T-shirts and normally advertise through a messaging app. A week after my online post, I received a message from a person named Precious. But when we spoke on the phone, she said her name was Alisha and she was interested in buying my stock. She asked what quantity was for sale,” said Ramiah.

“When I said I had 288 bottles at R6 500, she said she would take all and asked for a better price. I told her that was the best price. She said she needed the stock urgently,” she added.

Ramiah said they arranged to meet near the Bangladesh Market.

“My husband, daughter and son-in-law went with me to deliver the boxes. We were not familiar with the area and we were confused about where to go. Alisha told us to meet her near a shop, which she named. We reached at 6.15pm and then someone named Blessed called me. When I answered, he said his name was Edgar and that he would be doing the deal on behalf of someone else.

“He said the shop was closed because we took too long so he gave us another location."

When the family reached, the location was a dark alley.

“We eventually met an Indian male and female. We made small talk and offloaded the 12 cases of fabric softener. During this time, Edgar told us he would pay through an e-wallet. He was supposed to pay cash, but he said an e-wallet was safer. He ‘paid’ R5 000 through Capitec and R1 500 through FNB. A notification came to my phone. We wanted to withdraw the money. Edgar said that the area was unsafe and we should rather make the withdrawal in Phoenix,” said Ramiah.

“We eventually reached a mall in Phoenix and tried to withdraw the money. In both instances, I got an error notification. I phoned Edgar and he said he would sort it out in the morning. I was angry and told him I needed to pay my supplier,” she added.

“This went on for a few days and that was when I realised we had been scammed. He then blocked me,” said Ramiah.

She said she had to borrow money to pay her supplier.

“Now all our salaries will have to go to pay back the debt. This is our side hustle because the cost of living is high. We are just trying to make ends meet,” said Ramiah.

She opened a case of fraud at Greenwood Park SAPS.

Ramiah said after her incident she formed an online group only to find out that others had suffered a similar fate.

“Someone from Overport was selling medical gloves. They advertised it on Facebook Marketplace and got a message from someone wanting to buy 10 boxes at R14 500. They too were told to deliver the stock to a shop near Bangladesh Market.”

The victim, who did not want to be named, said “Edgar” had met her to collect the stock but said he had no data to do internet banking.

“The boxes were already in his vehicle. He told me to follow him to an ATM up the road. But as we were driving, he turned into Havenside and we lost him in the traffic,” said the angry woman.

“He phoned to say he will sort the money on Monday, but it never came and he blocked me.  I make a living from selling these gloves, and now I won’t recover from this loss because I haven’t paid my supplier,” she said.

She opened a case of fraud at Mayville SAPS.

A couple from Isipingo said they were contacted for their boxes of chips.

“After seeing my advert online, a man phoned and said he wanted to buy 51 boxes of chips at R9 180. He said we must meet him in Chatsworth at 10am. We hired a bakkie to carry the stock and met him at a garage near Bangladesh Market,” said the couple.

“Edgar said that he was the middle man for a Pakistani national who wanted the chips for his shop. He said he would e-wallet us because he didn’t have cash. He asked us to wait up the road for the money to clear,” said the couple.

“We left all the stock with him and we went to the bank. We waited for a long time. He was on the phone with us as the money was not reflecting. We decided to go back to the meeting spot but he was gone with all our stock. We were later blocked. We had taken the chips on credit. Now we have to pay for it. I can’t believe that we allowed ourselves to get scammed,” said the disappointed couple.

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