Unreal estate: Ou ‘scammed out of R110k by property agent couple’

A Belhar couple is being accused of scamming mense out of large amounts of money after promising them brand new homes.

Ebeanazer Appies, who paid R110 000 deposit, met Shameemah and Earl Overmeyer last October.

Real estate agent Shameemah told him she could help him get a house in Camelot, Kuils River.

“She told me that the house was in a social housing scheme and that if I gave a deposit of R30 000, it would be payment for conveyancers and lawyers and that the house would be mine,” he says.

“My cousin, Stephen Appies, introduced me to them and he also wanted to buy a house, so a week after meeting them, I deposited R60 000 into her account for a house for each of us.”

After making the deposit though, Ebeanazer said that no paperwork was sent his way, but he continued communicating with Shameemah.

“Two weeks after I deposited the money, she told me about another property that was available and I decided that I would buy it in order to rent it out, because she made me believe that she was also buying multiple houses to rent,” he says.

“I then sent another R30 000 for the third property and a few weeks later in November, she informed me of another property but I did not have enough cash, so I only sent R20 000 which she said was fine.”

R110 000 out of pocket and still no paperwork in his possession, Ebeanazer started growing suspicious.

“On 26 January, we were supposed to go to the Kuils River Police Station to get the keys for the house but then Shameemah cancelled because she had to go to hospital and the doctor. That excuse has been ongoing ever since.

“I am sick and tired of these excuses, I want my money back.”

Another person, who did not want to be named, said that Earl is the mastermind of the scam and that she and her cousin each gave him R30 000 with “nothing to show for it”.

The Daily Voice called Shameemah for comment and she promised to call back, claiming she had a doctor’s appointment. She did not call back and has since stopped answering her phone.

Fraud charges were made at Belhar and Kuilsriver SAPS.

[email protected]