SCAM TARGETS TEACHERS' SALARIES

This should serve as a warning to all - check your bank accounts on a daily basis (if possible) and follow up and report all suspicious transactions.

Scam targets teachers' salaries
November 17 2006 at 12:15PM
By Irene Kuppan and Sharlene Packree

Police, a Johannesburg company and at least three banks, have launched an investigation after teachers across KwaZulu-Natal had money deducted from their bank accounts without their knowledge. KwaZulu-Natal Minister of Education Ina Cronje has warned teachers and officials to check their bank statements for unauthorised payments.

While it is unclear how many teachers have fallen prey to the scam, the Daily News was inundated with dozens of calls from teachers at various schools who said that most of the staff had been affected.

'We have no specific relation with the department of education'

According to those who called in, an amount of R7,51 was deducted from their bank accounts on October 3 and November 3. While teachers have said the amount deducted on its own may seem small, if the money was taken from the bank accounts of all of KZN's 74 000 teachers the amount could run into more than R1-million.

A letter being circulated at schools warning teachers of the scam said it appeared that all teachers paid by the department of education were being targeted.


The R7,51 was taken through a debit order by a Johannesburg-based company called BDB Holdings and a Mr D Theron is somehow involved. Paul Marcellin, spokesperson from BDB Holdings, said that the company had received numerous complaints and had launched a full investigation into the matter.

According to their Website, BDB provides human resource management applications, payroll packages and electronic funds transfer solutions. "We are a company that facilitates payments and we act on behalf of other companies. We have no specific relation with the department of education but were asked by a company called Central Bridge Trading to take the monies off the accounts," he said.

It is not clear how Central Bridge Trading obtained the personal details of the teachers. Marcellin said they had a joint meeting with the banks involved and they have launched an investigation. They have since terminated the contract with Central Bridge Trading.

Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Phindile Radebe said the Durban Fraud Unit had contacted BDB Holdings and were waiting for relevant information on how the details of the teachers had been obtained. "We have received many reports from teachers and are investigating the matter. We are hoping to make arrests soon," he said. It is not clear how many teachers have been targeted by the scam but it is believed to be thousands.

Spokesperson for Standard Bank, Ron Linstrom said they were informed about the scam a few days ago. Absa's Deon Oosthuizen said that Absa was aware of the scam and an investigation was under way. Cronje said the department had not effected the debit order and the payments had not been done through the department's payment system. She advised anyone affected to open a case at the nearest police station and then take the case number to the bank.

A Newlands West teacher, who did not want to be named, said the money was taken out of his account for the past two months. He said that as soon as he noticed the missing money, he contacted his bank and informed them of the "suspicious" debit. "This is a violation of our privacy as banking details are confidential."He said even though it cost more to recover the money, it was the principal of the matter and the scam should be investigated.Teacher and officials can contact the department's hotline at 080 020 4353 (office hours), or fax information to 033 342 0275, or email nomondemkznedu.kzntl.gov.za

This article was originally published on page 1 of Daily News on November 17, 2006