Police swoop in on Gqeberha contractor after Facebook post went viral

A Gqeberha contractor, Donovan Greyling, is currently under investigation by the police after being accused of swindling people out of money by promising to revamp their homes or do maintenance work and failing to deliver.

At least six complaints of fraud have been filed against him.

Four of the complainants shared similar stories of being left in the lurch after paying Greyling for work.

They claim that he started projects but failed to finish them, and in some cases, he never even started the work despite accepting a deposit.

“We can confirm that six cases of fraud are being investigated in which allegations have been made against a 36-year-old man,” said police spokesperson Andre Beetge.

One of the victims, Melani Welsh, contacted Greyling in May for a quote to remove and install a sink and cupboard at her Sidwell business.

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After accepting the quote and paying a deposit of R4,500, Greyling removed the old cupboard but never returned to install the new one.

Despite providing a series of excuses and promising to repay the money, he failed to do so.

When Welsh posted about her ordeal on Facebook, other individuals who had allegedly been scammed by Greyling came forward.

It seems that he had been targeting multiple victims in the area.

“He came to our workplace, pleading for the post’s removal. I stipulated that I would only remove it once we received our money back, which, unfortunately, never occurred. Following the Facebook post, other individuals he had allegedly scammed also came forward,” said Welsh.

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Another victim, who chose to remain anonymous, paid Greyling a deposit of R30,000 for a bathroom renovation and electrical work based on a recommendation from someone she trusted.

Unfortunately, she became another victim of Greyling’s fraudulent activities.

These cases highlight the importance of doing thorough research and background checks before hiring contractors or service providers.

It’s crucial to verify their credentials, ask for references, and check online reviews to ensure they have a good reputation.

In situations like these, it’s essential to report the incidents to the authorities and share the information with others to prevent further victims from falling into the same trap.

By raising awareness about these fraudulent practices, we can protect ourselves and our communities from such scams.

Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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