A CON-ARTIST has vanished into thin air after duping 40 truck drivers, desperate to secure employment, of thousands of dollars after purporting to represent a Botswana-based transport company.
MOSES MATENGA
The victims, most of them from Masvingo, fell prey to the bogus representative of Fast and Furious International Global Village Logistics after responding to a newspaper advertisement inviting applications from qualified drivers.
Some of the drivers told NewsDay that they had responded to the advert and were subsequently notified through a letter dated September 30 indicating that they had been shortlisted for the jobs.
The “candidates” were, however, told to pay $300 each as security for employment allegedly to ward off chancers since many people had applied for the few available jobs.
“We were told to pay $300 by the contact person who said interviews would be held on October 8 (yesterday) at the Croco Motors garage located at the (Harare) showgrounds,” Tonde Wamambo, a victim, said.
Another driver confirmed that they had to make a deposit of $300.
“We received the letters and when we called the contact person, he would give a reference number. After that, that’s when he would tell us to do something for us to get the job, hence they wanted $300,” he said.
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He said he paid $150 and agreed to settle the balance from his first salary.
The letter purportedly from Fast and Furious signed by one Cyril Anderson read in part: “We are pleased to announce that the above-mentioned credentials have met our satisfaction, the minimum requirements of our HR Select Committee. Your reference number is HR12517985.
Please contact Mr Mahwere our Transport Director on +263 733 298 860 and confirm your receipt of this letter by giving him your reference number and he will advise you on your time slot on the interview and road test programme.
“Our interviews are going to be held on October 8 at the Harare Exhibition Park (Showgrounds), Croco Motors Garage along Rekayi Tangwena Avenue from 1030 hours to 1600 hours. Successful candidates will be expected to commence their duties on October 15 after signing out three-year contracts and a minimum net salary ranging from $1 200 per month and above depending on the vehicle duties assigned will be unveiled to successful candidates(sic).”
But, the Botswana-based transport company’s manager Boitumelo Moakofhi yesterday, however, said: “We know nothing about this matter and neither are we setting up in Zimbabwe. Cyril Anderson used to work in our business and resigned many months ago. We no longer have any dealings with him whatsoever. We have, nonetheless, made contact with him and he says that he does not know anything about this.”
According to the company website, Fast and Furious International Global Village Logistics offers a wide range of customised global transportation logistics and supply chain management solutions.
