An alleged motor vehicle thief and fraudster who has scammed countless victims on Facebook Marketplace, is being sought by the Welkom police.
“Sello ‘Papa’ Khumalo, who is wanted for fraud and the theft of motor vehicles, could be in hiding in one of the towns in Matjhabeng,” says Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa police.
Thakeng says unsuspecting victims who are selling their vehicles on Facebook Marketplace are being targeted by him.
“Khumalo will contact the seller and pretend to show interest in buying the vehicle for his girlfriend or wife as a birthday present. He will then request the bank account details of the seller so that he can transfer the cash. Then, he will send a notification and inform the victim that the money will reflect in their bank account after a few days.
“This is when the seller (victim) will hand over the vehicle keys and papers of the vehicle and the fraudster will drive away with the vehicle.
“The victim (seller) will realize he has been scammed, and that it was a fake notification that he received in his cellphone. The alleged fraudster will then sell the same vehicle to a third party, usually a licensed vehicle dealership,” says Thakeng.
Members of the Welkom K9 unit caught the suspect red-handed on 28 October 2021while he was busy trying to scam another seller.
Khumalo was positively identified by the victims and he appeared in the Welkom Magistrates’ Court where he was granted bail of R5 000.
In November 2022 he failed to appear in court and a warrant for his arrest was issued. He is facing five charges of theft of motor vehicles and fraud. The crimes were committed in Winburg, Welkom, and Thabong.
Should anyone have information leading to the arrest of this alleged fraudster and thief, they must contact Det. Const. Siyabonga Bawuthi of the Welkom Vehicle Crime Investigation unit on 083-721-2918 or 076-791-5645, or the Crime Stop number on 08600-10111.
The police would like to sternly warn those selling vehicles or any item on Facebook Marketplace to be vigilant for fraudsters, says Thakeng.
