The offer of a loan at an interest rate of only 2% per annum looked suspicious right from the start, mainly because nobody in South Africa would offer a loan at 2% with the prime overdraft rate sitting at 9%.
Secondly, the offer came by way of an unsolicited SMS without any indication of the identity of the sender.
Further information was just a WhatsApp message away, with spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes removing any doubt that this attractive loan offer was fake.
“Cash Loan Company Limited is a legitimate and well known south Africa and British approved loan lending company based in south Africa and united kingdom,” it proclaimed, yet it uses a Google mail address and does not have a website.
Read:
“We offer loans to individuals as well as organizations who have intentions of renovating houses and institutions, debt consolidation, re-financing and also establishment of business outfits. We give out our Loan in USD and GBP, RAND and any currency of your choice.
“Blacklisted can apply, no credit check, debt review or court order can apply. ITC can apply,” according to a lengthy message, signed by a Mr Jackson.
The message asked for my identity number, title, name, surname, telephone number, address, loan amount, loan duration, monthly income, salary date, monthly expenses and occupation.
No check
Jackson was apparently happy with only a partial name, a fake identity number one digit short of a potentially genuine one, my occupation and whatever…
