GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - The Mossel Bay Advertiser has received an email from an alleged scammer who uses a piano as bait.
The first email was received from the following address: Pretorius Lindie with the following message: "Hello. I hope you are doing well.
I am looking to give away my late husband's Yamaha baby grand piano to a passionate instrument lover, so let me know if you will take it or have someone who will care for it."
The Advertiser replied to the mail and asked for more detail about the so-called giveaway.
The writer of the email then sent the following message: "The Yamaha Baby Grand Piano GC1 model used to be owned and played by my husband, who passed away last year.
"The dimension is 151cm by 146cm. It was last tuned sometime last year before he passed. She's about three years old and in an impeccable condition. I'm moving my properties to another place and I don't think my husband will be happy if I sell this piano. At the same time, I am settling for a home with less space, so I'm hoping to give it out to someone who is a passionate lover of the instrument.
"I wasn't going to leave it alone in an empty house. The piano is currently in storage with the movers I employed to move my properties from my house. The movers can deliver anywhere. However, the beneficiary has to pay moving costs. In attachment are the pictures of the piano. You need to contact the movers and make an arrangement as regards the moving process. I would like you to take some pictures/videos when they arrive at your address."
The scammer then provides an email address where victims should provide their details, such as a physical address and cellphone number. Another email address where this personal information should be sent to is then provided.
The scammer concludes the message with: "Then just let them know that Mrs Pretorius Lindie referred you, with the reference code: PL109OBY. Make sure you send an email for a faster response. Most importantly, provide your delivery address for them for a delivery quote. Once you are in touch with the movers kindly also let me know so that I can sign off the piano." Regards, Pretorius Lindie.
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