What started as a clever trick to make quick cash ended in chaos for three men in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal.
The suspects thought they could fool desperate buyers with what looked like high-end smartphones.
Instead, they ended up facing the fury of a community that had had enough of their games.
How the Scam Was Pulled Off
According to reports, the men staged their operation using a genuine Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra as bait.
They would show it off to potential buyers, highlighting all the impressive features.
Then, they spun a story about urgently needing money and offered the phone at a bargain price.
Once the deal was done, they handed over a sealed Samsung Galaxy box.
But inside, there wasn’t a smartphone—just a broken tile wrapped in toilet paper. By the time victims realised what had happened, the scammers had already moved on to their next target.
Victims Sound the Alarm
The con unravelled after two people were tricked in quick succession.
One elderly man was swindled out of R100, while another victim lost R500.
Realising they had been deceived, they quickly raised the alarm.
Community members stepped in, caught the suspects, and discovered more “fake” phones—sealed boxes stuffed with broken tiles.
The situation escalated quickly as the angry crowd demanded the suspects return the stolen cash.
Community vs. Scammers
The suspects were eventually forced to hand back the money before Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) officers arrived on the scene.
RUSA confirmed that they had received a call about a mob assault on Moss Street, where the suspects were being dealt with by locals.
A Bigger Question
While the men got what many would call “instant justice,” it raises a wider question: should communities take matters into their own hands when dealing with scammers, or should cases like these always be left to the police?