Shayamoya resident Everton Mfitshi writes:
I would like to warn people about a new scam trending on Facebook and WhatsApp.
In January parents have to pay school fees for their kids, buy uniforms and stationery.
This means most parents need additional finances, but I want to alert them to be very cautious of people on social media who pretend to lend people money.
They even use big brand names when advertising on Facebook.
When you respond to the advert they respond with a WhatsApp number, to which you have to send all your personal information such as your full names, net salary and so on.
Once they receive your information, they say they will respond within 24 hours.
After a few hours you receive a SMS informing you the loan you requested had been approved.
But they also ask you to pay R2 999 upfront for insurance, claiming this amount is to protect your loan should you be unable to make payments due to illness or retrenchment.
When you ask if they have branches nearby, their response is they only have branches in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
All communication happens through WhatsApp, and this I believe is a big red flag. Reputable companies do not work like this.
They also insist that money must be paid upfront before they can released the approved loan.
They further want all your account details. If people ask you to send your personal details, just do not do it.
If you need a loan, go to you bank or to a registered financial institution. In my opinion most of these…
