Five Zimbabwean Nationals involved in a tarmac/carport/fencing/building scam have been arrested by members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) in Verulam – Kwazulu Natal.
The RUSA Operation Center received a call from a Policeman at approx 09:02. He informed the controller on duty that he was at an Engen Garage in Verulam & required assistance after he spotted suspects that had scammed him of R9000 in cash.
Reaction Officers converged on the garage and restrained five males who were in a white Izuzu bakkie. All five suspects were from Harare in Zimbabwe & were living in South Africa for a few years. A second complainant approached Officers at the scene and identified two of the men who had scammed him of R7000 last week at his Phoenix home.
The Modus Operandi of the suspects was to put up posters at robots and visit clients at their homes to measure up for quotation. They will then quote cheap and request a deposit immediately to start the work. They will then drop of 2/3 workers to start digging trenches or the driveway in preparation for tarring or concreting.
They usually request a large deposit and leave to purchase material. When they fail to return, the client questions the workers on-site who explain that they have no knowledge of who brought them to the site and claimed to be employed as casual labor for the day. They then leave the tools which are usually two spades and walk to a nearby tuckshop to purchase cooldrink and flee. A white Izuzu bakkie and a white Mercedes Benz are two of many vehicles used in this
scam.
The suspects are currently in detention. Complainants who have been scammed by these men are to contact Phoenix SAPS.
Tarmac scammers arrested in Verulam https://t.co/MXScQKEs9n#ArriveAlive #Scammers #RUSA pic.twitter.com/J1ShcPKHRu
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) October 6, 2020
