PROJECT: COURIER PAYMENT SCAM

isabels39
1 day ago
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THE CASE:

In a deeply distressing incident highlighting the growing sophistication of online scams in South Africa, our client, a pensioner, fell victim to fraud after advertising her cellphone for sale on Facebook.
The phone was her last valuable possession, which she hoped to sell in order to raise funds for an urgent medical procedure.
She was soon contacted by an alleged buyer who claimed to be based in the Free State.
He communicated with her fluently in her home language, presenting himself as a polite, well-mannered young man.
His warm and familiar tone created a false sense of trust, and she believed she was dealing with a genuine buyer.
The scammer insisted on using The Courier Guy’s Pudo locker service for the transaction.
He sent what appeared to be a valid proof of payment, showing that R6,500 had supposedly been transferred into her account.
Trusting the documentation and his assurances, the pensioner placed the phone in a Pudo locker for collection.
However, no payment ever reflected in her bank account.
When she contacted her son for help, it was already too late - the parcel had been collected.
CCTV footage showed the scammer retrieving the package and walking into a nearby foreign-owned store, presumably to sell the stolen phone.
The vehicle he used was clearly captured on surveillance cameras, including its number plate.
The family was informed that, due to POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) restrictions, the license plate details and identity of the individual could not be shared with the victim or her son.
This made it exceedingly difficult to take further action or retrieve the stolen item.
Even more troubling was the response from law enforcement.
When the pensioner attempted to open a police case, she was reportedly refused assistance, with officers allegedly telling her that it was her own "negligence" that led to the loss.
This was the first time she had ever fallen victim to a scam.
Her trust was abused by someone who manipulated her vulnerability, and the lack of support from both the courier system and the police has only deepened her distress.

HOW THIS COURIER LOCKER SCAM TYPICALLY WORKS:

You list an Item for sale. You advertise a product, often a valuable item like a cellphone, on an online marketplace such as Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, or OLX.
The scammer poses as a polite buyer and contacts you, expressing interest in the item. They often speak your home language fluently and appear friendly, respectful, and trustworthy.
They recommend a courier locker and propose using Courier Guy’s Pudo locker system or a similar service for the collection and delivery of the item. This adds a false sense of professionalism and convenience.
You receive a fake proof of payment, which appears to be a legitimate proof of payment, such as a deposit slip or bank notification, often showing the full amount agreed upon.
Trusting that payment has been made, you proceed to drop off the parcel in the designated locker for collection.
Once notified, the scammer quickly retrieves the item from the locker. The payment never reflects in your account. The scammer then vanishes, often reselling the stolen item elsewhere, leaving you with no way to recover your loss.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

Never send or release an item until the money reflects in your bank account.
Do not trust screenshots or email confirmations — confirm directly with your bank.
Avoid using courier lockers for private sales.
Meet in person in a public place, with someone accompanying you.
If scammed, report the incident to the police and obtain a case number immediately.
Insist on opening a case - negligence is not a valid reason to refuse a SAPS case.

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Mike Bolhuis

Specialist Investigators into

Serious Violent, Serious Economic Crimes & Serious Cybercrimes

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