Cops are hunting for this woman who has allegedly targeted pensioners and defrauding them out of thousands of rands.
It is alleged the woman, identified as Claudia Smith, has been scamming ou mense from Mitchells Plain, Athlone and Manenberg, and police have called on more victims to come forward.
Victims say she asks them for help to bury her brother or mother who has recently passed away, promising to pay them back when the death policy is paid out.
She also apparently goes by the names Kariema and Kamiela.
In September and October, she allegedly visited the homes of four pensioners in Manenberg, conning them out of R4 000.
Jeanette Daniels, 63, says Claudia came looking for her husband, Pastor Douglas Daniels and wanted him to assist with the burial of her brother.
COMPLAINED: Jeanette Daniels
“We want to expose her in the Daily Voice because she is targeting old people,” says Jeanette.
“My husband said the church doesn’t have money (to help with the burial).”
The next day, on 1 October, the woman allegedly went to the home of a 65-year-old.
“She said her brother died and her policy would take two days to pay out,” says the senior. She even called me aunty and was so convincing, pretending she knows my family.”
She says she gave Claudia R1 000 and was promised it would be paid back two days later.
“She even made me cry. But I realised she scammed me when I asked my grandchild to take me to Letaba Street where she claimed she lived and no one knew her.”
Another 70-year-old woman says Claudia came to her for help, this time claiming to be Muslim and needing help with her brother’s janaazah.
She claimed a community worker and ward councillor sent her.
“She said her name is Kariema and she also uses the name Kamielah,” says the pensioner, adding she gave Claudia R2 000.
SCAMMED: Jennifer Liebenberg, 65
But the community worker, Gwen Jacobs, says she never told Claudia to ask for money: “I sent her to find out how she can be assisted at the mosque.”
Another resident, Jennifer Liebenberg, 65, claims she also gave Claudia R1 000 in the same week after hearing the same sob story.
Ward councillor Bonita Jacobs confirms she knows Claudia, who had also asked her for help.
“I told her why don’t you make the funeral a few days later and then she left my offices. If I see her again, I will make a citizen’s arrest.”
Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut confirmed a case of theft has been opened for investigation, and encouraged victims to lay charges.