A Mitchells Plain mom says she fell victim to a scam after she was promised a job, but only if she paid money for her “uniform” first.
Sheena Gallant, 35, says she has been unemployed for seven months and was excited when she received a SMS about a job offer.
The SMS stated that she got a cleaning job at a home for disabled people in Tarentaal Road, Athlone, which pays R1500 per week with transport provided.
They asked for a copy of her ID, and provided a fax number, as well as R180 for a uniform which was to be deposited at a Pep, Ackermans or Shoprite store.
“I have been applying for jobs and I do not keep track of which places I apply to. I assumed that this SMS was one of them,” says Sheena.
“I was excited, they asked for my clothing size and I deposited the money as I believed this was indeed a legitimate job offer.”
She was supposed to start last Monday and was told to go to a nearby bus stop to wait for the staff transport, which she says never came.
She then tried to call the contact person, a “Karen Marren”, but got no answer: “After not getting a response when I asked where the transport was, I knew something was wrong. I called the number and it went straight to voicemail.”
The Eastridge mother says she went home disappointed: “I searched for the Athlone address they gave and called the number that appeared online.
“The lady who answered the phone told me something that broke my heart.
“She said I fell victim to a scam that has been happening for some time and I am not the first person to call.”
Sheena now wants to warn other people about the scam.
“I just hope I was their last victim. I am desperate for a job and I know there are thousands of people out there who are desperate too.
“Some might think R180 is a small amount of money, but when it’s your last, you will not think that.”
The Daily Voice called the cellphone number and a man answered, but dropped the call and switched off the phone as soon as the journalist introduced himself.
siyabonga.kalipa@inl.co.za