Platinum scam resurfaces, man loses E100 000

SITEKI – A man allegedly lost E100 000 in a platinum deal as reports of recurring precious-stone scams raise concern.

The alleged loss is the latest in a series of reported cases in which people have been approached with promises of lucrative platinum deals, raising fresh concerns about schemes targeting members of the public through seemingly attractive business opportunities.

According to a police report, a 49-year-old man from Maphalaleni reported that he had been defrauded of E100 000 after being promised a platinum stone. The incident reportedly occurred on October 13, 2026, at around 10am at Mahhala.

The matter has been reported to Matsapha Police and is under investigation as a case of theft by false pretences.

The latest report comes amid previous reports by this publication of people losing substantial sums of money after being promised platinum.

On September 21, 2026, this publication reported that a new platinum scam was operating in Manzini City Centre. Investigations by this publication found that men allegedly approached unsuspecting members of the public, presented themselves as people with connections in the mining sector and promised access to platinum deals that could generate substantial profits.

People who had encountered the alleged scammers told this publication that the men could be convincing, with some reportedly using claims of mining connections in South Africa to make the deals appear genuine. The identities of the men involved had not been established, and claims about their nationalities and mining connections had not been independently verified.

In that report, the latest victim at the time was identified as 40-year-old Nkonto Dlamini of Lobamba, who allegedly lost E18 000 and a Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued at E10 000 after being promised platinum by two unknown men. The total alleged loss was E28 000.

The publication also reported a separate case from May 2026, in which a man from Siphocosini allegedly lost E150 000 after being approached in Manzini and promised raw platinum. The suspects allegedly disappeared after receiving the money.

The latest E100 000 case therefore adds to the growing list of reported losses linked to platinum promises, with police investigations expected to establish the circumstances of the transaction and identify those responsible.

Meanwhile, Tshaneni Police are investigating a separate case in which a 43-year-old woman from Manjengeni alleges that her former boyfriend fraudulently transferred ownership of her Mazda Demio Sky Active, valued at E135 500, into his name.

According to the police report, the woman purchased the vehicle on May 1, 2026, accompanied by her then boyfriend. However, she had not paid the full purchase price at the time and was not issued with the vehicle’s registration document, commonly known as the blue book.

Instead, the dealership reportedly provided an affidavit acknowledging the sale and outlining the conditions attached to the transaction.

The complainant later allowed her boyfriend to borrow the vehicle occasionally. However, his use of the car reportedly became more frequent until he effectively had it in his possession.

The situation allegedly continued even after their relationship deteriorated. By then, the woman had reportedly settled the outstanding balance on the vehicle.

According to the police report, the suspect allegedly obtained the original registration document from the dealership through misrepresentation. He is alleged to have presented himself as the complainant’s husband and claimed that the affidavit issued during the initial transaction had been destroyed in a fire.

The suspect reportedly used this explanation to request the original blue book, which the dealership subsequently handed over to him.

He is then alleged to have transferred ownership of the vehicle into his name without the complainant’s consent and continued using it.

The woman reportedly discovered the change of ownership on October 7, 2026, at around 11am and reported the matter to Tshaneni Police.

Police have opened an investigation into the alleged theft by false pretences, and investigations are ongoing.

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