Elderly woman scammed of millions

BEWARE of money scams that prey on the elderly, says private investigator and owner of Specialised Security Services Mike Bolhuis.

One of his clients, an elderly woman in her seventies, was conned over seven years. She had applied for loans from international banks because their interest rates looked good.

She has a mass of emails and documentation from alleged international banks.

“Our client was promised R10 million,” said Bolhuis. “The documentation looked legitimate and professional. She paid more than R1m in various costs to collect the R10m, which she believed would secure a comfortable retirement for her.

“When she contacted us, the next requirement was set. She had to pay a final R4 999 to a certain Dr Brian Jones, the director of admin (British Inland Revenue Services), for the release of the R10m into her bank account.

“She did not have the last R4 999 to pay over and it was only at this time that she contacted our organisation. Our client made her payments to the various entities, at Spar.”

Bolhuis said she kept paying because she had invested so much and was told she had to continue paying if she wanted to get the promised R10m.

“These scammers go to extreme lengths to groom people over years, to drain every cent from them.

“Always verify the identity of someone by calling the particular organisation via an independent source. Do not use the details provided.”