Smooth operator goes to ground as cops close in

Promises of quick returns on large investments have left a number of Gqeberha residents seething after allegedly being swindled out of their hard-earned money.

Several people have allegedly lost tens of thousands of rand after buying into the smooth operator’s promises of big profits from deals — which turn out to be dodgy — involving the buying and selling of cars, vending machines and even non-existent Wagyu beef.

The complainants tell the same story of how he drew them in by helping them with something they needed, then offered them a business deal that promised quick returns.

But when the time came for him to pay up, he allegedly offered one excuse after another.

Then, when the complainant turns to the police, all contact with the suspect stops and he disappears.

Police in Gqeberha have confirmed that at least two complaints against the man are under investigation.

Various attempts to contact the suspect, whose name is being withheld for now, proved fruitless.

His phone number no longer exists, his social media account has been deactivated and no-one appears to know his whereabouts.

Christa Luck had her first run-in with the man in October, when he drove into her daughter’s vehicle.

Their insurance claim was settled amicably, but in March  he approached her with a business deal seemingly too good to pass up.

Luck said he promised her that an R80,000 investment would be worth R120,000 in a week.

“He claimed to have connections with a company that auctions cars for good prices, while also having a deal with a car dealership that has buyers already lined up.

“He approached us to help him buy these cars at an auction, and once the dealership brokered the deal with the car’s new owner, we would get our payout.”

However, after a week with no payment forthcoming, the excuses started rolling in.

First, the payment from one bank to another would take three days to clear, then he had Fica-related problems with his account, and finally the proof of payment he provided turned out to be fake, Luck claimed.

“We went to his house, but his wife wanted nothing to do with us.

“The last time he answered my phone calls I told him we would open a criminal case against him, and since then he has been unreachable,” Luck said.

Her uncle had, meanwhile, also entered into a business deal with the suspect, looking to buy two scooters for his daughters.

This deal also went south and allegedly cost him R24,000.

Gqeberha martial arts coach Chris Bright also claims to have been swindled out of R40,000 after the man promised to provide financial assistance to members of Bright’s MMA team.

“He offered to pay airfares for our athletes when they competed in Johannesburg in January.

“We had to hound him constantly, and eventually he covered those costs.

“Not long after that, he contacted me with a deal where I would invest money in cars on auction and get a payout when they are sold through a dealership.”

“Looking back now, I should have known a R20,000 profit within a week is too good to be true.”

When he asked for the promised profits, Bright said, he was met with the same excuses as Luck, and communication with the suspect dried up when he threatened legal action.

The martial arts coach posted a warning on social media, asking people to contact him if they were approached by the suspect.

Within hours, he said, his inbox was flooded with messages from people who claimed to have either lost money to the same man or were busy doing business with him.

“He [allegedly] had some people investing in bogus vending machines and others spoke of expensive Wagyu meat deals that cost them money.

“Realistically, I know I will never see my money again, but I’m hoping other people learn from my mistake and avoid this guy altogether.”

A Glenhurd resident, who asked not to be named, came forward after seeing Bright’s post and claimed she and her aunt also fell victim to the suspect.

“I was lucky enough to get some of my money back, but still lost R6,000 in a dodgy car deal, while my aunt lost R9,000.

“She was actually trying to buy a car from him, paid him R50,000, and [allegedly] never saw the car again.

“We were lucky to get some of our money back as we immediately involved our attorneys.

“But we are still out R15,000 between the two of us, and we know of more people who have apparently lost much more than us.”

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg confirmed that at least two cases of fraud were under investigation.

Attempts to contact the suspect were unsuccessful and no-one was at his Newton Park home.

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