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Readers Letters The runaround About a month ago my colleague and I received a call off one of our property boards from a client who wished to view the apartment. I went over to the flat and met with a middle-aged Afrikaans man who went by the name Marius Botha. He claimed that he had just moved his business down from Jo’burg (import-export) but had had a problem with the property he was supposed to be renting and so was needing to buy something fairly urgently. He expressed great interest in the flat so I offered to show him another one in the same complex. We made an arrangement to meet the next day. On showing him the second apartment he said that he liked them both, would take them as little investment properties but would need something bigger for himself. We then took him to a few higher-end properties. From these he short-listed two – he would make his decision the next day after second viewings. When we met with him the third time he said that he had already made up his mind and that he had asked his attorney to fly down from Jo’burg, bringing with him all his trust and CC documents in order that we could finalise the purchases. He was in a hurry to get things signed up as he would be leaving for Dubai in a few days. His attorney would be staying at the Cape Grace Hotel at the Waterfront and we were to meet them there on the Saturday morning. When we got there he had not arrived. Each time we called he assured us that he would be with us shortly but was running late for whatever reason. After an hour and a half he asked us to please come and meet him at The Bay hotel as he just couldn’t to get away! Although fed up, we decided to give him one more chance. At this point many of you may be thinking, ‘Oh for heaven’s sake, this guy is a fraud!’ Believe me, we were thinking the same thing! I have to stress, however, that at no point was he bombastic or arrogant in his manner. He was never creepy or weird. He was quiet and unassuming with a very good knowledge of property and developers in the area. He wore a Rolex watch and Versace bangle. Even though we had been suspicious from day one, he had never given us any reason to doubt his authenticity. Furthermore, as an agent one quickly learns not to judge your buyers - sometimes the most unlikely people turn out to be the most lucrative clients! Needless to say, when we got to The Bay he was nowhere to be found and his phone was now off. We went back home with the bitter and angry realisation that we had just been conned! About a week later, we tried his number out of curiosity. Although he was supposed to be in Dubai, he answered his phone. When we confronted him he denied that he was Marius and told us that Marius was unavailable! It was not until a week ago that we realised how lucky we were to have got off so lightly. I read in the Tygerberger of a similar incident where a man was trying to buy hair salons. The modus operandi was the same. We realised that he was targeting all businesses, and we want to warn all female agents as we are a particularly vulnerable target group. I phoned the police inspector, who confirmed that another agent from the Blouberg area had also been led to the Waterfront, where this man apparently tried to take nude photos of her! This time it may have been a case of minor indecent assault – who knows what it may be tomorrow. - Name withheld, Jawitz Properties Property involves us all. What’s your view? Email letters@thepropertymag.co.za
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