Scammer targets Durban seafood business; owner loses thousands to online fraud
The ordeal began on Friday when the scammer made contact with the business through WhatsApp, placing a sizable order that included seafood boil, prawn platters, and an assortment of frozen seafood. To validate the transaction, the fraudster provided what appeared to be a convincing proof of payment from First National Bank (FNB). Believing the payment to be genuine, the business owner prepared the order, which was subsequently collected by an E-Hailing driver.
The following day, the scammer placed a second order worth R4,300.00. However, the owner's instinct kicked in, and they requested an instant payment before releasing the goods. The scammer again sent a fraudulent proof of payment, but this time, the owner was wary. Upon contacting their bank for verification, they were informed that the payments had never been made, marking the moment the owner realised they had been scammed.
In a twist of deception, the scammer persistently contacted the owner afterwards, falsely claiming that the payment had been successful. This individual, described as an Indian male, is just one among many con artists employing similar tactics to exploit small business owners.
The modus operandi of these scammers often involves recruiting unsuspecting E-Hailing drivers to collect goods. After providing drivers with an address and directing them to leave the products in unsecured locations, the con artists promptly pay them through cash transfer services while creating an elaborate web of deceit that complicates the recovery of stolen goods.
Scams like this are proliferating, particularly on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, where sellers are pressured into swift transactions without confirming the legitimacy of a payment. 'Buyers often target sellers during banking hours or intend to verify payments in a limited timeframe, making it ripe for unscrupulous tactics,' warned a RUSA spokesperson.
In light of this incident, the public is urged to exercise due diligence by verifying all bank deposits prior to releasing any goods, especially during online transactions. As these scams continue to evolve, taking precautionary steps can help guard against future fraud.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Eyewitness News
2 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Indian police arrest man running 'fake embassy'
NEW DELHI - Police in India have arrested a man accused of running a fake embassy from a rented house near New Delhi and duping job seekers out of money with promises of overseas employment. Harsh Vardhan Jain, 47, was operating an "illegal West Arctic embassy by renting a house" in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, which neigbhours the capital, local police said. Jain, according to police, claimed to be the ambassador of fictional nations "like West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, Lodonia". He allegedly used vehicles with fake diplomatic plates and shared doctored photos of himself with Indian leaders to bolster his claims. "His main activities involved acting as a broker to secure work in foreign countries for companies and private individuals, as well as operating a hawala (money transfer) racket through shell companies," the police said in a statement following his arrest earlier this week. He is also accused of money laundering. During a raid on Jain's property, police said they recovered $53,500 in cash in addition to doctored passports and forged documents bearing stamps of India's foreign ministry. AFP was unable to reach Jain or his representatives for comment. Westarctica, cited by the police as one of the countries Jain claimed to be representing, is a US-registered nonprofit "dedicated to studying and preserving this vast, magnificent, desolate region" of Western Antarctica. In a statement, it said it had appointed Jain as its "Honorary Consul to India" after he had made a "generous donation". "He was never granted the position or authority of ambassador," it added.

IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
R4bn Question: Can UIF sustain its core mission amid job creation push?
The UIF Labour Activation Programme's mandate is to mobilise resources, partnerships, and implementation capacity to drive sustainable job creation, retain existing jobs, and support unemployed and vulnerable groups. Image: Supplied SOUTH Africa stands at yet another crossroads where political expediency challenges institutional integrity, as the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) assumes an unprecedented role in funding a job creation programme traditionally financed by the National Treasury. The Department of Basic Education (DBE), in partnership with the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES) initiative under the Presidency, has turned to the UIF for R4 billion to fund the Teacher Assistant Programme — a short-term intervention aimed primarily at unemployed youth. According to the DBE's April 2025 CareersPortal document, the Teacher Assistant Programme, now in its fifth phase, aims to create about 200 000 positions for young unemployed people aged between 18 and 34. Participants receive monthly stipends of R4 000, plus R30 airtime, for six months of practical work experience in schools across South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed the programme's scale and significance during a June 2 statement. 'Today marks the 'first day at school' for about 200 000 young people at over 20 000 schools nationwide. They are participants in the fifth phase of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), the largest youth employment programme in South Africa's history.' Ramaphosa further emphasised that the initiative is funded by the UIF Labour Activation Programme alongside national government contributions. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Lala Maje, director for initial teacher education, stated: 'This initiative comes as South Africa continues to battle high levels of youth unemployment and an education system that is stretched and overburdened during these difficult economic conditions. Phase five of the BEEI, a component of PES, offers a timely intervention.' However, this funding model starkly contrasts with the UIF's core statutory mandate. The UIF is 'a statutory social security mechanism' funded by contributor deductions and owes its duty solely to those who have been previously employed and have made contributions. The UIF Labour Activation Programme's mandate is to mobilise resources, partnerships, and implementation capacity to drive sustainable job creation, retain existing jobs, and support unemployed and vulnerable groups. It is designed to complement and accelerate PES's broader economic recovery and inclusive growth objectives. The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which has been appointed as the paymaster for the programme, confirmed receiving an advance disbursement of R2 billion — half of the total requested R4 billion — from the UIF. Questions sent to the UIF, DBE, and the Office of the Presidency were unanswered at the time this report was compiled. The UIF recently came under fire in Parliament for delaying payments to workers who became unemployed or were unable to work. The Fund is reportedly plagued by persistent service delivery challenges, payment delays, and limited accessibility for vulnerable workers, which exacerbates the hardships experienced by those it is meant to protect. The Fund briefed the Parliamentary Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade on its budget and strategic plan, as well as its annual performance plan. MPs stated that the UIF was failing workers who became unemployed or were unable to work due to various reasons. The Labour Party of South Africa has condemned the 'diversion' of UIF funds to the PES, describing it as 'economic injustice' that violates the fund's mandate. 'The UIF was never designed to be a general job creation fund,' the party said, emphasising that PES beneficiaries did not contribute to the scheme. The party highlighted the R2 billion advance payment made to PES programmes, lamenting that retrenched workers would wait months while billions flowed unchecked to 'political programmes'. The party warned that paying non-contributors higher stipends than UIF beneficiaries risked collapsing the fund. The UIF and PES operate under distinctly different mandates, frameworks, and funding models that reflect fundamentally divergent labour market roles. This situation raises critical questions about whether the PES is effectively encroaching on the UIF's mandate by sourcing funding — including advance payments — in ways inconsistent with UIF's legal and operational principles. The UIF, established by the Unemployment Insurance Act, is legally empowered to register all employers and employees in South Africa for unemployment insurance benefits. It primarily provides short-term unemployment relief to eligible contributors who have formally paid into the fund. The UIF functions under strict governance and financial protocols — its payments were intended as a stopgap during times of crisis, such as the Covid-19 lockdowns, to provide relief for a limited period until economic recovery could resume. Payments are disbursed monthly based on verified claims, and advance payments are strictly prohibited to protect the fund's sustainability and accountability. In contrast, the PES is funded directly from the National Treasury and designed as a temporary economic relief initiative targeting short-term employment, especially among youth, and to stimulate the economy through multiple exit strategies. The reported R2bn PES advance payment already made marks a significant departure from UIF norms, exposing the fund to financial risks and contradicting social insurance principles. Meanwhile, the UIF attributed delays in Labour Activation Programme stipends to 'administrative discrepancies and attempted fraud' by partner companies. It promised improvements via stricter invoice verification and a new electronic payment system to resolve backlogs. Jacky Molisane, acting director-general of Employment and Labour, warned beneficiaries against protests, stating: 'The Department reserves the right to take legal action against those undermining processes.' She confirmed that there was sufficient budget allocation for current stipend payments. Tshepo Ramodibe, IDC Head of Corporate Affairs, assured that the funds would be managed in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), with oversight from internal audit and subject to external audit. Ramodibe clarified that the IDC's role is strictly as a pay agent for BEEI, distinct from an implementation agent with autonomy. He firmly denied any claims that political or executive pressure influenced IDC's acceptance of this role. South Africa's youth face a persistent unemployment crisis that limits their economic independence and future prospects. Initiatives like PES and the UIF Labour Activation Programme have the potential to be transformative if implemented effectively. The UIF focuses on accredited training and sustainable job creation, offering structured pathways into formal employment, while PES provides essential short-term relief and work experience. Nonetheless, fundamental questions remain: Is the PES pushing the UIF out of its core mandate? Is the use of UIF funding in this manner undermining the fund's sustainability, legal integrity, and governance standards? Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.


The Citizen
3 hours ago
- The Citizen
Three sentenced in Free State gold smuggling and money laundering case
SASOLBURG – The Sasolburg High Court has handed down what authorities have described as a 'befitting sentence' to three men involved in the illegal possession of unwrought gold, money laundering, and immigration violations. The convictions stem from a Hawks investigation launched in November 2023 after intelligence revealed that gold was being illegally purchased in Welkom and transported to Gauteng. Acting on the information, an integrated law enforcement team – comprising the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation (Welkom), the Precious Metals and Diamonds unit, Public Order Police, and Protea Coin Security – intercepted the suspects. Progress Bayeni Mlambo (44), Leonard Robert Moyo (47), and Leonard Kocanai Sithole (28) were arrested. During the operation, police seized more than R4 million in cash, four vehicles, and sixteen unwrought gold nuggets found hidden in one of the vehicles. The National Prosecuting Authority, working with the Hawks, obtained a forfeiture order to confiscate the seized gold and money. On 24 July 2025, Mlambo received a fine of R250 000 or nine years' imprisonment for contravening the Precious Metals Act, as well as an additional R250 000 fine or nine years' imprisonment for money laundering. Moyo was fined R100 000 for contravening the same Act. Sithole was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, provided he is not convicted of any Immigration Act violations during that time. The court also ordered his immediate deportation. Free State Hawks head Major General Mokgadi Bokaba praised the collaborative effort that led to the arrests and convictions.