City fire services warns public against scam
By Marthe van der Wolf
24 October 2007
The City of Cape Town's fire services has warned the public against a scam. Jobseekers are being conned by a national crime syndicate. They’re asked to pay hundreds of Rands for bogus jobs and training in fire fighting.
The syndicate operates under the name GoodWood Fire and Water Technology and other pseudonyms.
24 October 2007
The City of Cape Town's fire services has warned the public against a scam. Jobseekers are being conned by a national crime syndicate. They’re asked to pay hundreds of Rands for bogus jobs and training in fire fighting.
The syndicate operates under the name GoodWood Fire and Water Technology and other pseudonyms.
“The scam started in Durban and has now spread to Cape Town,” says Chief Fire Officer Ian Schnetler.
The syndicate is also known as ‘Armstrong Veld & Forest Fire’, which claims to be aligned to the SA Fire Services Institute and the Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa.
Applicants are asked to pay an enrolment fee of R895 for their course. Once the money is paid into the bank account of a Mr M Mthembu in Pinetown, the applicants never hear from the company again.
“The scam came to our attention when victums starting phoning up the municipality’s Goodwood Fire Station to enquire about the course,” says Schnetler.
Adverts placed by the City of Cape Town will always be clearly identifiable by the council’s logo. Also, the City would under no circumstance ask for any payment in recruiting fire fighters or other emergency personnel.
The scam has been reported to the SAPS.
The syndicate is also known as ‘Armstrong Veld & Forest Fire’, which claims to be aligned to the SA Fire Services Institute and the Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa.
Applicants are asked to pay an enrolment fee of R895 for their course. Once the money is paid into the bank account of a Mr M Mthembu in Pinetown, the applicants never hear from the company again.
“The scam came to our attention when victums starting phoning up the municipality’s Goodwood Fire Station to enquire about the course,” says Schnetler.
Adverts placed by the City of Cape Town will always be clearly identifiable by the council’s logo. Also, the City would under no circumstance ask for any payment in recruiting fire fighters or other emergency personnel.
The scam has been reported to the SAPS.
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