The Lutheran Church in Strand Street, Cape Town claims it has become the latest victim of a con artist who claimed her mother had died and asked them for R2 000.
On Thursday, a pastor got dressed in his ceremonial “toga” and waited for the coffin of Claudia Smith’s mother to arrive for the viewing between 9.30am and 10 am.
But when the mourners didn’t show, the 59-year-old chairman of the church council, who asked not to be identified, informed the pastor that there would be no funeral and that they had been scammed.
The chairman intends opening a case with police.
Smith made headlines in the Daily Voice in October after she allegedly conned oumas out of more than R4 000, claiming her mother or brother had died and that she needed money before their policies could be paid out.
He says a week before, Smith had visited their church while he was at work and asked the church to help her to remove her mother’s body from her home.
TAKEN IN: The Lutheran Church
The chairman explains he instructed the secretary to give Smith R1 000 from their petty cash after she claimed she was a mother of twins, was part of their congregation, and worked at a fast food chain.
“I said to the secretary that I would be in touch with the treasurer and she left a note stating that her name is Anthea Jacobs and that she would be repaying the money on December 11 once the company paid her out,” he says.
Then last Sunday, he says she was back at the church in snot en trane claiming she needed more money:
“I arranged with my wife for R1 000 and gave it to her and she said she would give all the money owed back on December 11.”
He says he became suspicious when he was informed by a fellow pastor that they had nearly been scammed and was shown Smith’s face in the newspaper.
Police spokeswoman, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, confirmed several theft cases are being investigated by Manenberg police “against a woman who goes around the area asking elderly to assist her financially”.
Anyone with information about Smith is asked to contact Manenberg SAPS 021 699 9400 or their nearest police station and Crime Stop on 08600 10111.