Teller thwarts R500 000 con

Syndicate bid to rip off ex-nurse at bank

A SHARP-witted Port Elizabeth bank teller saved a client from losing half-a-million rand yesterday when the woman was almost conned by a criminal syndicate that is duping people with promises of doubling their money.

Three men – including the intended victim’s boyfriend and a sangoma – have been arrested after allegedly trying to scam the former nurse from Mthatha out of a huge amount of her money.

Just hours earlier, the specialist Hawks unit issued a warning to the public about a syndicate posing as traditional healers claiming to be able to double unsuspecting victims’ cash.

Yesterday afternoon, Flying Squad and Walmer police arrested two suspects possibly linked to the syndicate.

Officials said a silver Mercedes-Benz was pulled over in Target Kloof after a car chase from the Walmer Park Shopping Centre at about 2pm.

By late afternoon, police had arrested a third suspect – a self-proclaimed sangoma – at a flat in Sidwell.

Former nurse Ntombokula Nxaxmeba, 53, almost became the latest victim of the scam.

“I am from Mthatha and my boyfriend is in Alicedale,” Nxaxmeba said.

“We both came down by bus on Sunday night and booked into a guesthouse in Mill Park.

“These two other people he knows have been driving us around in their car since Sunday.”

According to police, all three suspects are from Uganda.

Yesterday, Nxaxmeba’s boyfriend – who is now in custody – convinced her to withdraw R500 000 to give to the sangoma to double her money.

“We came to Port Elizabeth to buy a car and we were going to drive back together,” she said.

“I have already given him and his friend R50 000 to give to the sangoma to make more money.”

Until police pulled the car over, Nxaxmeba had no clue she was allegedly being conned.

An alert Absa Bank teller informed police of Nxaxmeba wanting to withdraw the large sum of money.

“The manner in which they were acting was suspicious, which prompted the teller to alert police to the transaction,” an official linked to the case said.

“The transaction was denied, which prompted the two men to leave with her [Nxaxmeba] in a hurry.”

After the trio left the bank, police spotted the Mercedes leaving Walmer Park.

“The car was intercepted in Target Kloof. The two occupants were arrested,” the official said.

Investigations led police to the sangoma, who was arrested in a room behind a hair salon in Commercial Road where his herbalist business is situated.

The Mercedes, which has been confiscated, is believed to be linked to a robbery in Port Elizabeth last month.

Earlier, Eastern Cape police issued a warning of a crime syndicate operating in the province, posing as traditional healers.

The Hawks said the syndicate specifically targeted women who work for the government.

This comes after several cases in which people were conned out of millions of rand.

Hawks spokeswoman Lieutenant Anelisa Feni said seven cases were under investigation in the province.

“Besides these seven cases, the Hawks continue to receive correspondence from family members of women who they believe are becoming victims of this scam,” she said.

“They have unexpectedly resigned from work and are unwilling to tell their families why, because their lover or traditional healer has instructed them not to.”

Feni said the victims were usually first approached by a man interested in having a romantic relationship.

“He either discloses to her that he is a traditional healer who is able to solve her financial problems or he wants to introduce her to a traditional healer who can [do so],” she said.

“She then undergoes traditional cleansing ceremonies and consultations with her ancestors. The consultations are either conducted in graveyards or a dark room with a curtain . . .

“The ancestors speak to the victims either from behind the curtain or in the graveyard and tell them to resign from work. The ancestors promise to multiply their pension money . . . “Once the money is paid out, the healer instructs them to give it to him in cash or transfer it into a bank account. “The healer then delivers a trunk, or bags, which he claims is full of their money.

“The victim is told to wait a few days before opening it and not to tell anyone – or else the money will not multiply.

“When the victim opens the bags or trunks, she is greeted by blank pieces of paper,” Feni said.