News / National
Bulawayo scratch card operator accused of swindling clients
12 Apr 2012 at 05:00hrs | Views
A LOCAL scratch card operator is suspected of swindling clients of their hard earned money.
The scratch card operator sells cards at inside the Haddon and Sly building.
It is alleged to have swindled clients who had bought cards to try out their luck.
The cards were worth US$1 each and for one to win, three numbers had to match in the same box.
An elderly couple is reported to have bought a card worth a $1 which they scratched only to find out that they had won $50.
The couple was, however, puzzled after they were told that the money reflected on the card was in old Zimbabwean dollars and not in the current United States dollars.
The woman, who only identified herself as Mrs G, said she and her husband bought a card, scratched it and clearly won as they got the three matching figures.
"The card we bought matched three $50 numbers which made us winners, but we were told that the amount was in Zimbabwean dollars. The problem is that we last used Zimbabwean dollars over three years ago," she said.
They were further told that if they converted the money it would be equivalent to R5 instead of $50 they had won.
"They gave us R5 and said it was equivalent to money we had won in Zimbabwean dollars. The company is cheating us because they accept the $1 they charge for the card yet they tell us that the money written on the card is in old Zimbabwean dollars.
"We do not know why they are doing this or maybe they are taking us for a ride since we are old," she said.
Contacted for comment an official from company who refused to be identified dismissed the allegations saying the money on the cards is not in Zimbabwean dollars, but in United States dollars.
He said the matter would be investigated.
The scratch card operator sells cards at inside the Haddon and Sly building.
It is alleged to have swindled clients who had bought cards to try out their luck.
The cards were worth US$1 each and for one to win, three numbers had to match in the same box.
An elderly couple is reported to have bought a card worth a $1 which they scratched only to find out that they had won $50.
The couple was, however, puzzled after they were told that the money reflected on the card was in old Zimbabwean dollars and not in the current United States dollars.
"The card we bought matched three $50 numbers which made us winners, but we were told that the amount was in Zimbabwean dollars. The problem is that we last used Zimbabwean dollars over three years ago," she said.
They were further told that if they converted the money it would be equivalent to R5 instead of $50 they had won.
"They gave us R5 and said it was equivalent to money we had won in Zimbabwean dollars. The company is cheating us because they accept the $1 they charge for the card yet they tell us that the money written on the card is in old Zimbabwean dollars.
"We do not know why they are doing this or maybe they are taking us for a ride since we are old," she said.
Contacted for comment an official from company who refused to be identified dismissed the allegations saying the money on the cards is not in Zimbabwean dollars, but in United States dollars.
He said the matter would be investigated.
Source - chronicle
