Western Cape police have warned people to beware of a wendy house scam where deposits were paid but goods are not delivered.
|||Cape Town - Western Cape police have warned people to beware of a new wendy house scam.
The scam, said police, required people to deposit R1 500 into an account before their wooden houses were “delivered”.
So far, eight cases had been reported in the Western Cape, said police Captain Marie Louw.
She said police had also been in contact with at least 25 other people, from across the country, who had fallen prey to the scam.
In each case the modus operandi was the same, Louw said.
Pamphlets advertising “wendy houses for sale” were distributed with the company name and a contact person to call. People called the number and were told to deposit R1 500 into a Shoprite Money Market account.
After the deposit was paid, the wendy houses were never delivered and the “salesman” could not be reached.
Louw said some people were turned away at some police stations where officers believed the scam was a civil matter, while others did not complain.
Cases had been opened in Mitchells Plain, Somerset West, Riviersonderend, Swellendam and Port Elizabeth.
Those who have fallen victim to the scam or have information can contact Detective-Sergeant Stella van Schalkwyk at the Bishop Lavis police station at 082 312 7221.
Cape Argus