Job interview scam turns into hijacking horror for Brakpan woman
Witbank News reports that, according to the complainant, she received a phone call from an unidentified woman claiming she had been shortlisted for a personal assistant position, with an interview scheduled for Friday, June 20, at 10:00.
Trusting the legitimacy of the offer, the woman set off in her Nissan Murano SUV, from Brakpan to eMalahleni.
While en route, she received a second call from someone who identified herself as Veronica, informing her that the interview location had changed due to power and water outages.
She was directed to Walter Sisulu Street, where she would meet a company driver in a white Hyundai i20.
When she arrived, the victim parked behind the mentioned vehicle.
A man allegedly approached her with a firearm and instructed her to move to the passenger seat. He then allegedly got behind the wheel and started following the white Hyundai into a remote area beyond the railway line.
In a secluded area, the kidnappers allegedly attempted to coerce her into providing banking PINs and making mobile transfers.
Despite multiple attempts, they were unsuccessful.
The woman told police the men forced her to try an eWallet transfer of R1 000, which also failed.
Ultimately, they abandoned the woman in the bush and fled the scene with her vehicle.
The victim went to Witbank Police Station and reported the matter.
Authorities have since launched an investigation into the incident, which appears to be part of a broader scam targeting job seekers.
'The tip I can give a person in a situation like this is to ensure that you remain vigilant, especially if you are not familiar with the place you are in. If approached by a stranger while in your car, drive off, if possible, or press your hooter to attract attention. Do not resist, especially if the thief has a weapon, and give up your vehicle with no questions asked and move away,' said Captain Eddie Hall, spokesperson of Witbank police, as he warned the public.
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