The Algoa Bay Council for the Aged in Port Elizabeth is warning desperate job seekers never to part with their money in return for the promise of work.
Administrator Mike Viviers told AlgoaFM News they had four people arrive at their offices on Monday expecting to start their new jobs.
They’d travelled all the way from Cradock and Viviers said he’d had to turn them away as Algoa Bay Council for the Aged had never advertised the positions.
It appears that these four victims had searched for employment on Gumtree and had been duped into sharing their ID numbers with these scammers who were then able to access their PEP Stores accounts.
The victims had had to put money into these accounts for uniforms and shoes.
Viviers said not only had the victims been scammed out of their money, but the scammers now had access to their accounts.
He said it appeared to be cyclical as Algoa Bay Council routinely experienced this kind of scam every 12 months or so.
Police Spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says they have received many complaints in the past of people who were robbed of their money when purchasing a dog, diamond or car online and even when applying for jobs.
She says scamsters use fake websites and the public should be extra cautious when cash is requested.
Naidu urged the public to not part with their money before getting the service/product that is promised to them.
