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Be cautious of this Port Elizabeth vehicle purchase scam

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scam artistPolice in Port Elizabeth is once again cautioning the public to be alert when purchasing or selling goods online. On a daily basis cases are opened at police stations across the metro whereby people are conned online. In most of these cases, people are defrauded when they purchase or sell vehicles online. The deposit is paid into a bank account and the vehicle is never delivered. Also, people are conned when they respond to the sale of thoroughbred puppies on line. Here again, the money is deposited and no puppy is forthwith.

In recent cases, the ‘buyer’ of the vehicle makes contact with the seller and requests to see the vehicle prior to purchase. A meeting is arranged at the buyer’s convenience whereby the location is picked by the buyer and the owner is requested to take the vehicle to him. Once the meeting takes place, the ‘buyer’ is then accompanied by another person whom he alleges has the money. During a conversation held between themselves but in the presence of the seller, talk is about diamonds and that the third person owes the so called buyer money for diamonds given to him. At the end of the meeting, the ‘seller’ is conned of his vehicle and large sums of money which is withdrawn from his/her bank account and at times is left with a handful of fake stones. In one case, the con artist had taken the victim’s cell phone as well.

Police are looking for this man whom they believe can assist them in their investigation. The person may be a foreigner and is fluent in Afrikaans. Anyone who knows this person or the whereabouts of this person is asked to contact Mount Road police , Detective Warrant Officer Kevin Tait on 041 3946049 or 0798825628.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.