Conman seeks money for ‘funeral’

Mlungisi Mthembu

Cadet News Agency

A CONMAN is doing the rounds, claiming to be the son of an Independent Newspapers’ deliveryman who has “died of a heart attack”.

The conman has been asking subscribers to make a donation towards the funeral of his father.

According to Abdia Gasnola, Independent Newspapers subscriptions manager, the con artist has been seen in Sea Point, Green Point and Kirstenhof. He has always used the same modus operandi.

“He has an official-looking letter from Independent Newspapers and asks for money for his father’s funeral arrangements,” she said, urging subscribers not to be tempted to hand over money.

Independent Newspapers has said that the letter carried by the con artist is not from Independent Newspapers.

A Rondebosch resident, who asked not to be named, told the Cape Times that the conman approached him at his home, claiming to be the son of Victor – the person who delivers his paper in the morning.

“He said he had a letter from Independent Newspapers and a list of subscribers and asked me to help him with funeral arrangements for Victor.”

The subscriber was suspicious and decided to conduct his own inquiry. “I asked him how old his ‘father’ had been. He said 54, which I knew to be nonsense because Victor is in his late 30s. I asked him when Victor had died. He said Friday morning after delivering the Cape Times, but I knew that Victor had delivered my Argus on Friday afternoon.”

Gasnola confirmed that Victor was alive and well.

According to a statement from Kirstenhof Crime Watch, two brothers from Hanover Park were arrested and taken to the Wynberg Police Station for running the scam in Kirstenhof and Tokai. “Because no one came forward to lay a charge, they had to be released,” the statement said.

Cape Times executive editor Alide Dasnois said subscribers with queries about deliveries should call the Independent Newspapers’ toll-free number: 0800 220 770.

mlungisi.mthembu@inl.co.za