The Sale of a Vehicle Turns into a Robbery at a Service Station
A man from Umhlanga found himself in a harrowing situation after being robbed of what he thought was his new vehicle in a scam gone wrong.
The incident unfolded when the man engaged with scammers over the sale of a white Ford Ranger Wildtrak, advertised at a price of R550,000. Despite the scammers’ attempts to have the buyer transfer the money based on photos and videos, the buyer insisted on inspecting the vehicle in person.
After meeting the representatives of the seller at King Shaka International Airport and agreeing on a sale price of R195,000, the buyer transferred the money to the seller. However, a dispute arose when the seller refused to acknowledge the funds in his account.
Following a standoff at the airport, the seller agreed to meet the buyer at a service station in Verulam. However, things took a dangerous turn when two armed men dressed in khaki uniforms arrived in another white Ford Ranger and forcibly took the vehicle at gunpoint, leaving the buyer stranded.
Reacting swiftly, a local security company assisted the victim and reported the matter to the police. The victim was taken to the authorities for further assistance, as the investigation into the robbery began.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online transactions and the importance of verifying sellers and purchases before transferring any funds. It also highlights the need for caution and vigilance when dealing with unknown parties, especially in high-value transactions like vehicle sales.
