A Reminder About Holding Deposit Scams

A while ago the Junk Mail team told you all about a fake vehicle scam that has been doing its rounds. It seems that scammers are renewing their efforts in an attempt to steal money from many Junk Mail users and this has prompted us to remind you about holding deposit scams.

A syndicate of scammers are posting classifieds adverts for vehicles for under market value on our website. They are doing so to attract the maximum amount of users. These persons claim to be living in Mpumalanga (in Witbank / Emahleni and Nelspruit). Junk Mail users that are living in Gauteng are mostly targeted by these scammers.

So, you might be asking “how do holding deposit scams work?”. Well, the scammers claim that the vehicle that they’re advertising at a ridiculously low price is still available. Next they’ll ask potential buyers for a holding deposit or document registration fee so they can supposedly reserve the vehicle for them. The scammers will shoot down any requests from the potential buyer to view the vehicle with made-up excuses. Once they’ve received money from the potential buyers for this, they become illusive and ignore the potential buyers attempts to contact them.

To avoid this scam, you should take note of the following:

  • Remember one of the golden rules when it comes to scams: If something sounds to good to be true, it’s usually false. If you spot a vehicle that’s advertised for way under the market value, be cautious. The vehicle doesn’t exist in 99.99% of these cases.
  • If you’re unsure about a vehicle’s market value, check the amount of views on the advert on Junk Mail. If it has more than 100 or 200 views, chances are that that the pricing on the vehicle is wrong or that you’re dealing with a fraudulent or fake car advert.
  • If the advertiser is refusing that you view or inspect the product before buying it, be cautious. Don’t pay for something that you haven’t even seen or inspected yet.
  • Don’t travel long distances to view an item that you might be interested in. Check if the address that the person is giving you actually exists. An easy way of doing is by using Google Maps. Get a friend to call the same person from a different number. If the same advertiser claims that the item is located in a different town or region, you’re probably dealing with a scammer.
  • If you receive a reply from a web based e-mail address (@gmail, @yahoo, @hotmail, @live, @rocketmail and @ymail) be vigilant. These addresses can be created in a few minutes online and scammers love to use them.

We trust that you’ll find these guidelines useful. If you stumble upon some holding deposit scams on the Junk Mail website, please report the advert via the function provided on the Junk Mail website or report the advertiser to our Customer Care Department via ccc@junkmail.co.za or telephonically on 012-3423840 x2295 (during office hours). Incl phone numbers and e-mail addresses that the suspected scammers use in your report.

For more scam warnings like this one, check out the Safety & Security Tips page on the Junk Mail help site, there are links posted to some pretty useful information.

Henno Kruger

Digital Marketing Campaign Coordinator at Junk Mail Publishing.

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36 Responses

  1. Guy had a corsa advised. White one for R18 500. He cliamed someone is coming to take the car but if I give him atlest R1000 dep he wil keep it for me.. After I paid the deposed his number was off and I lost my cash his number is 079 0600055 he and his wife are in this. She claimed her name is vanessa

  2. Danel says:

    Hi, the same as Marius, we also almost was a victim of a holding deposit scam, with exactly the same people who advertised the white corsa. They give you a pin, and you have to pay money in at any Spar. Once the money is paid in, you cannot retrieve it, and the other party get your money. DO NOT, take their pin number. We used our own pin, not the one “Venessa” gave us, and when we told her, we will give her the Pin once we view the vehicle, things started falling apart. We realized it was a scam, so luckily we didtn lose our money. So,do NOT take any Pin number from anybody. And yes, if the car is very low price, its probably a scam.

  3. Ralph says:

    Same happened to me advertised a tazz 2005 for R28000. Ronald 0789613920 said the vehicle is Pietermaritzburg and they can bring it to Gauteng if I pay R710 for admin and R310 for petrol. They mentioned that the money is refundable.
    Can’y ge hold of them to see vehicle. Nmaes used Paul, William they also use (011) 0794757 as a office number also will ask you to make payment via e-wallet to a cellnumber

  4. sam says:

    mike was selling toyota avanza for 75000.at first i thought it is dealer because he used the name submotors. he then told he can organise finance for me, i send my documents he told me i would pay r1500 for 60mnts. he i must pay 1300rand
    admin plus delivery.he is not mike he is ndumiso c dlamini.i paid r1300+deposit of 3000rand and his phone is off.his cell no is 0739989456

  5. t.l.muvhali says:

    hi HENNO KRUGER i saw a ISUZU KB 4BY4 250DTEQ WHITE IN COLOUR DOUBLE CAB,now i was told to deposit money through western union bcos the owner now she has moved from south africa to britain her name is LINDA WENTZEL she doesnt want to give her id number and the vehicle registration number bcos she told m the vehicle nis in the ware house of autoafritrans pls help me

    • Henno Kruger says:

      Hi TL Muvhali – This sounds like a scam. Don’t pay money into this person’s account. The bakkie probably does not exist.

  6. Munya says:

    This are few of several scam ads, all the ads are posted via eMail, who is this guy?? Can you block his ip or ads? Give him a big ban!!!!

  7. Munyai says:

    PLEASE ALL THE ADS PLACED VIA MOBIL WITH 1 PICTURE ARE SCAM ADS PLEASE REPLY PLEASE STOP THIS SCAMMER

    PLEASE ALL THE ADS PLACED VIA MOBIL WITH 1 PICTURE ARE SCAM ADS PLEASE REPLY PLEASE STOP THIS SCAMMER.
    REMOVE THIS SCAMMER HE POSTING DUPLICATE ADS FROM MOBILE WITH 1 PICTURE

    CHECK THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES
    CARAVAN
    MOTORCICLE
    BOATS
    BOATS
    VW
    FORD
    OPEL
    BMW
    AUDI
    ETC
    ETC
    ETC

    ALL THE ADS PLACED VIA MOBILE WITH 1 PICTURE ARE SCAM, ARE DUPLICATE ADS, REMOVE THEM REMOVE REMOVE

  8. Munyai says:

    Is a guy who is posting scam ads on your website and on junkmail.co.za site. They are not responding and I cannot report the scam ads. Please can you let me know if you can contact them by phone to explain them this email !!! Is very important for me please help me get in toouch with them or tell them to contact me back asap, he post hundred ads one by one in 1 hour and I think he hacked the junkmail.co.za site. Please reply me asap and let me know !!!!

  9. Munyai says:

    PLEASE ALL THE ADS PLACED VIA MOBIL WITH 1 PICTURE ARE SCAM ADS PLEASE REPLY PLEASE STOP THIS SCAMMER

  10. Jamie Wilson says:

    I am looking at buying a truck on junkmail – went to go and see the truck yesterday – all very good. Have been given copies of the registration papers and roadworthy – private sale.

    Just worrying about making transfer and receiving title? I will be making from outside SA to SA?

    Thanks

  11. Sheryl Joubert says:

    Hi, I have had now 11 people coming to my property to claim their car that they have paid a deposit for into a ewallet account. Once this deposit is paid they phone the seller and the seller gives them the address (which is my street address)to meet them. When they arrive at my house they discover there’s no car and no seller.The names given have been Yolanda, Ben, Pieter. This is very concerning to me as my address is now being used. I have been to the Police and they tell me there’s nothing they can do. These people advertise on Junk mail and Gum tree now. Help What do I do???

    • Henno Kruger says:

      Hi Sheryl – Please contact our Customer Care department and provide them with the details on these advertisers, if you have them. E-mail them via ccc@junkmail.co.za or phone them on 012-3423840 x2295.

  12. Bernice says:

    UNATHI MOTORS 5900 i want to know if this company exists as they are doing inhouse finance

    • Henno Kruger says:

      Hi Bernice – I have not seen any details for them online. Did you see the advert on the Junk Mail website?

  13. luzuko says:

    The guy called Mike was selling Toyota Quantum and I paid them R7000 they have been coming to deliver it forever their numbers are: 0719922287, 0739989456 and 0110519473. Their driver’s name is Sibusiso: 0783824495.

  14. Luzuko says:

    a guy called Mike with the following numbers 0719922287 and 0739989456 claimed to be selling Toyota Quantum for R150000 and i gave him R7500 instead of the R15000 required as a deposit they have been delivering this taxi forever and his phones are not answered when i call him again.

  15. Babalwa says:

    Hi Guys there ads about Toyota Quantum, Tazz and others at low prices they use two contact people like Mxolisi and Clayton ill use them cos its the number I called. I was stupid enough to deposit an admin fee to their account now they’re busy calling me for 10000 deposit.0781614582 BEWARE.

  16. Babalwa says:

    I’d also like to know what can they do with my documents cos I faxed the payslips proof of adress and an ID.

  17. Annelize says:

    There are stacks of these ads. We are currently looking for vehicle and after just about every third ad you phone the guy wants a deposit to keep the vehicle for you. I immediately flag them as a scam. Number used today 0824746583 for an Opel Corsa. I always google the numbers given before I phone, but they not always listed where you can find them. Wish everyone will list these scamsters cell numbers somewhere where you can find it when you google it… Know of a website where you can do that if it will help…

    • Henno Kruger says:

      Hi Annelize – We are not aware of such a website, but if we find one or are made aware of one we will inform you ASAP

  18. Zweni says:

    Hi Henno

    Looks like the “Mike” guy has moved from junkmail to OLX. I found an advert for a Toyota Quantum for R100 000. They claim to be in Centurion at FieldMotors, 626 Prichardt Street. When you google the address and the phone number: 071 992 2287, u find the scam here. Good job on posting those details, otherwise I wouldn’t have known.

    http://centurion.olx.co.za/2013-toyota-quantum-2-5-d4d-gl-iid-551131913

    Thanks

  19. Marissa says:

    I never thought this would ever happen to me!!!!!! I responded to the ad32657453 for a Venter trailer. Paid R1500 for an holding deposit via e-wallet and needless to say that after I made the payment, his cell has been turned off. I feel like a total idiot.

  1. October 17, 2013

    […] Scammers love luring victims by only allowing them to respond only via e-mail. If the response you receive is accompanied by a story in broken English (about someone who is divorced or living in the UK or someone who is a photographer for National Geographic in some foreign country), it’s most likely a scam. If you are able to contact the user telephonically be vigilant and don’t pay them a holding deposit if they ask you for one. […]

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