RDP housing: Scammers continue to prey on vulnerable | News24

Beside the advertising of illegal sale of RDP housing based on the stipulations of authorities, residents are also promised a quicker delivery on new houses in exchange for an amount of money.The resident, who asked not to be named for fear of further victimisation, had reached out toin the hope of exposing an agent who had made off with her money. She was unaware of the popular scam.

For around seven months, authorities have been warning residents of housing scams in the area with some operating on WhatsApp and Facebook. The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements released a statement in September and again in January, with the City of Cape Town’s housing directorate releasing similar statements in November and February.

“I am an older lady already and I was getting impatient. This man was legit in my eyes. He had all the answers,” she says. “The City is aware of a scammer that is impersonating the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi on social media platforms. The scammer is asking residents to pay for housing opportunities as well as to assist with housing related enquiries,” read a statement.

The Department’s acting director for Communication, Muneera Allie says scammers are convincing because they have some knowledge of how government housing works and go as far as to create fraudulent approval letters and correspondence that may appear authentic and lawful. “It is easy to say that we should not be stupid and fall for scams. I never thought I would be scammed. But they come to you with such a great pitch and all the answers. Just be careful. It is an expensive lesson to learn,” she says.Be a South African adult citizen older than 18 or have a permanent residency permit.

Source: Real Estate Daily Report (realestatedailyreport.net)

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

ESKOM DIRTY DOSSIER: An investigation by News24ESKOM DIRTY DOSSIER | An investigation by News24
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »

The art of the con: How fiction explores our complex relationship with scammers | LifeWriters restrict their stories to the confines of a book’s pages, but con artists turn their own lives into walking fictions.
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »

LISTEN | Adriaan Basson discusses Eskom dirty dossier with Jacques Pauw | News24The 'evidence' that former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter used to implicate top ANC Cabinet members in the looting of Eskom are wild and untested allegations. Join News24's editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson and veteran investigative journalist Jacques Pauw as they discuss the so-called Eskom 'intelligence' reports.
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »

Sindiso Magaqa murder case: He had become unpopular with some ANC comrades - witness | News24A witness in the trial against four men charged with the murder of former ANCYL secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa said the late politician had been asking questions about municipal expenditure on a community hall. | NkoRaphael
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »

WATCH | WHO warns of 'high bio-hazard risk' in Sudan after lab is seized | News24The World Health Organization says there's a 'high risk of biological hazard' at a laboratory caught up in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the BBC reported.
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »

Women face period stigma at work even as menopause is less taboo | News24Period pain at work still carries a stigma, yet taking time off for menopause symptoms is becoming more normal for women, according to a report published Wednesday.
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »