Sakhile Tembe from Ndumo fell victim to a deceptive scheme involving the sale of his Isuzu vehicle.
The car, which Tembe listed on Facebook for R75,000, was fraudulently acquired by an unidentified man whose image is now being circulated for identification.
Tembe had listed his Isuzu for sale, and the suspect expressed interest, arranging to meet in Pietermaritzburg.
During their meeting, the suspect pretended to make a payment, presenting a fake Nedbank online payment notification for R60,000. The fraudulent notification read:
(Nedbank Online Payment: NGWEVU PROTECTS has paid R60000.00 Into Acc No:..395530 on 10/06/2024, Ref: 2024/06/10/Nedbank/003875220357)
Believing the payment to be genuine, Tembe allowed the man to take the vehicle but retained the logbook, intending to confirm the payment with his bank first.
Upon visiting the bank, Tembe discovered that no money had been transferred, realizing he had been scammed.
Attempts to contact the suspect have been unsuccessful as his phone is now unreachable.
Authorities are urging anyone who can identify the man in the photograph or has information about his whereabouts to come forward.
They can contact the number +27 84 314 7589 or report to the nearest police station.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of verifying payments before handing over goods in private transactions.
Tembe’s experience highlights the sophisticated methods fraudsters use to deceive unsuspecting sellers, urging the community to exercise caution.
The police are actively investigating the case and working to bring the perpetrator to justice.
Community members are encouraged to share any information that might assist in locating the suspect and preventing further fraudulent activities.
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