WALMER - WOMAN ALMOST CONNED OUT OF R500 000 BY SCAMMERS PROMISING TO DOUBLE HER MONEY

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.

VIA - heraldlive.co.za