Scamster convicted

VEREENIGING.- A Vereeniging scamster Suzan Fourie (49) was last week found guilty of 140 counts of theft after she scammed unsuspecting victims out of millions.
Fourie posed as a sales representative of cheap cars in the areas of Vereeniging, Ventersdorp, Klerkdorp and Alberton. She is a former receptionist from CUM Books in Vereeniging and had been using her employer‘s letterhead for all her correspondence. Fourie told her victims that the company wants to get rid of their fleet cars at a very good price.
Annatjie du Toit, a pensioner who lived in Klerksdorp at the time of the scam says she bought nine vehicles, which she never received, from Fourie for R670 000 and that her son Steven and daughter in law Marita Peterson were also scammed by the woman. Du Toit was Fourie’s target when she was released on bail. Du Toit is currently living with her son in Vereeniging: “I had to sell my house in Klerksdorp and I lost all my retirement money to the scam,” she said.
Another victim who also attended court proceedings was Neal Mostert and his family, Janet Flanegon, Rina Mostert, Calvin Williamson and Gillian Boucher who jointly lost R1.1million. Mostert had during November 2013 personally met with Fourie. “She swore on her grandchild’s life that this was not a gimmick and that the cars exist,” he said. Evidence produced suggests that a total amount Fourie incurred is R4 million although other victims did not lay charges as they no longer had the evidence of the payments.
Vereeniging Police Spokesperson Captain Fikile Funda says, “The Vereeniging Regional Court sentenced the scamster to a total of 50 years which will be served concurrently, amounting to a 15 year sentence with 5 years suspended. The cases were investigated by Warrant Officer Freddy Steyn and she was ultimately arrested.”