A Lotus River woman says she’s been scammed out of R8000 by a friend who she later discovered is an ou skelm with more than a dozen victims.
Melanie Wilds, 57, says she met Shane, 56, online eight months ago and has been in contact for the last three months, until he disappeared three weeks ago.
“We would chat and see each other all the time and after selling my VW Polo, he took me to Mercedes in Claremont on Saturday, 24 July and told me that he will deal with the people,” says Melanie.
“Next thing I know he came to say that he bought a car for R400 000 cash but it’s at the N1 dealership.
“I did not have a license but he said he was a magistrate and could organise one.
“The Monday after we visited the dealership he told me to send R6000 for the license and for the smash and grab to be fitted on the windows.
“I sent him the money and less than an hour later, he asked for another R2000 for a tracker, which I gave him after he came and took me to an FNB ATM in Grassy Park.”
For the next three weeks, Melanie said she and Shane were in constant communication but he kept coming up with excuses as to why the 2018 Mercedes Benz GLE 400 was not in her driveway.
“I eventually messaged the dealer and he got in contact with Shane who called to shout at me over the phone.
“When I contacted the dealer again, he said that they are still waiting for the money for the car.”
Melanie has not been able to get hold of Shane and has also learnt that others have fallen for his liegstories.
“Shane also took my brother’s wedding band and gold chain to be resized, and he promised to invest money in my other brother’s business but none of those promises have been met.
“When I searched Shane on Facebook and Google, I saw that he has been scamming people for a long time and there are many women, some as far as PE, who have similar stories.
“I also learned that he walks around with a bag of sim cards so he keeps changing his phone number.
“I have three numbers for him and they all go to voicemail.
“He apparently lives in Constantia but I have never been there and I do not believe it.”
When the Daily Voice attempted to call Shane on the three numbers provided, each went to voicemail.
junior.bester@inl.co.za