Tyre con men alert
Fraudsters operating in Zululand could be knocking on your door
ZULULAND tyre companies are warned to be wary of fraudsters who are attempting to buy tyres on cloned fleet cards.
Business Against Crime and the Empangeni division of the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman, Dave Whittaker, issued the advisory on Thursday.
‘We’ve had several well-dressed guys driving new motor vehicles attempting to purchase new truck tires at a large tyre company in Richards Bay over the last few days,’ he said in an e-mailed statement.
‘They try to use Nedbank fleet cards to do this without the actual truck being present.’
Whittaker highlighted one incident in which a transaction was permitted for a bus tyre. Shortly after the purchase, however, a Pinetown company was alerted by Nedbank that a truck/bus tyre was purchased on one of their fleet cards.
‘It was subsequently found that a cloned or fraudulent card was used.’
Whittaker said he was relatively certain that Nedbank was not the only bank being ‘picked on by the perpetrators’.
‘Make sure the vehicle described on the card is actually seen before selling tyres or fuel to the person carrying the card.
‘Fleet cards are usually used for work to be done on the vehicle, not to purchase items to take away and fit yourself.’
One particular supplier reported three separate attempts to purchase tyres over the last week.
‘We are sure that this is happening elsewhere in the area. People must ensure they do not get ripped off by these people. It is my understanding that purchases such as these will be deemed null and void and the vendor will end up bearing the brunt of the loss.’
Any interaction with these men can be reported to Whittaker via email to davew@baczul.org.za.
