Two Gauteng men desperate to sell their cars because of a financial crunch regret falling prey to a syndicate that uses newspapers to lure unsuspecting victims.
Joshua Sibisi,48, and Richard Phiri,60, both from Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, are licking their wounds after falling victims in an alleged scam run by individuals on the West Rand.
Sibisi, a former stock controller for a food and beverages company, said he had just lost his job when the Ekurhuleni municipality slapped him with a R20,000 electricity bill last year. In September his electricity was suspended. His wife and children had to learn a new life of using gas and paraffin.
“I had nothing and I was desperate. I was left with no options but to sell my car. I then saw an advert on one of the national newspapers. The ad was inviting car sellers and I was interested,” said Sibisi.
He called the advertiser, who then sent someone to Sibisi’s house to inspect his Mercedes-Benz C220.
“The inspector called the buyer informing him that the car was in good condition. I then spoke with the buyer, who introduced himself only as Patrick but I later found out that his real name is Tyron. Tyron and I agreed on R55,000 and that he can take the car immediately and come back for the disc once his EFT (electronic fund transfer) has reflected on my bank account,” said Sibisi.
However, that night he struggled to sleep, thinking about the transaction he had made.
“Something was a bit off. I woke up in the middle of the night and called the buyer. He did not pick up. I then realised that the number he had given me is different from the number on our agreement paper. I immediately sensed a scam,” said Sibisi.
He finally got hold of Tyrone the following day but said the buyer was agitated and started swearing at him and even called him by the k-word.
“I finally traced him to Roderpoort and I and my friends organised a taxi and we went to the West Rand to get my car but unfortunately we could not locate where he was working from. I then I opened a case of theft with the police in Tembisa. I also called the newspaper where he had advertised but they informed me that they could do nothing about it except to withdraw the advert and blacklist the advertiser,” said Sibisi.
Sibisi gave Sowetan the two cellphone numbers he used to contact Tyrone but the phones were off when this reporter tried to contact him.
Police also informed Sibisi of another victim, Phiri, who suffered a similar fate.
“Nothing has come of my case and I’m afraid that there could be dozens other victims like me. It is one of the bad things to experience and I wouldn’t even wish it to my worst enemy. My lights have been off since September and my debt has now increased to R28,000 including legal fees for lawyers to fight my case,” said Sibisi.
In 2015, Phiri wanted to downgrade from his Nissan double cab bakkie because it was consuming a lot of fuel. He became interested in getting rid of the car when he saw the newspaper advert. He wanted to swap his vehicle for a smaller and affordable one.
“I called the number and a guy came to fetch me and take me to his boss. We drove to Protea, Soweto, and we met at the petrol station. Two men then took my car and the third one drove with me to a garage where I was to choose a car. When we got there I realised that all the cars he was showing me were in bad condition. When I raised this he argued with me and made threats. I then left and contacted the Tembisa police to try and get my vehicle back but that route has not been successful,” said Phiri.
He has since instructed his lawyers to launch a civil matter.
Gauteng police spokesperson Cpt Mavela Masondo said he would respond to the cases today.
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