As unemployment figures rise in South Africa, more and more South Africans are becoming desperate to find a decent job in order to feed their families and themselves and keep a roof above them.
Unfortunately, it is during these desperate times that those who are desperate are taken advantage of, by those who are unscrupulous and uncaring. This follows a spate of complaints the Laudium Sun has received recently, from desperate job seekers living in the White Blocks area of Laudium. The angry and frustrated job seekers claim that a female resident from the adjacent Pearl Str, Preshnee Moodley had promised to ‘organise’ them decent jobs and living salaries at her workplace. However here was the catch, ‘prospective’ job seekers allegedly had to pay ‘consulting fees’ and hand over their IDs and control of their bank accounts to her for ‘speedy process of payment.’ Furthermore it is alleged that Preshnee also registered companies in the job seeker’s names, which she apparently controlled.
their ID’s and bank accounts to open fake companies.
One of those who complained to the Laudium Sun, is Viashnie Naidoo, of Eosin Street, Laudium, who relayed to the Laudium Sun what her daughter, Alliyah Naidoo had allegedly told her, “My daughter met Preshnee at a prayer gathering, and they exchanged phone numbers. Later, during January of this year, Preshnee contacted my daughter and asked if she was looking for a job. Since my daughter had just completed her matric, she was indeed looking for employment. Preshnee then asked her to send a copy of her ID and CV via WhatsApp. My daughter did so and Preshnee said she would forward her CV and copy of her ID to her boss, who supposedly owned a diamond import and export company in Rivonia. Soon after, Preshnee informed my daughter that she had been registered with the company and appointed as a clerk, with her employment to begin in February 2025. My daughter was very excited to have found work and join the company. As part of a supposed learnership program, Preshnee told her that she only needed to be at the office two days a month. She began receiving a monthly salary of R5,000 for the first month. Preshnee then told my daughter she needed to open a bank account and took my daughter to a Nedbank branch to open a bank account. However, all the bank details and the bank card were kept by Preshnee. When my daughter asked why this was necessary, Preshnee explained that the account would be used to transfer her salary. However, no salary was ever deposited into that Nedbank account and it now appears that the account may have been misused by Preshnee. My daughter received her salary via E Wallet. However, after two months, the payments suddenly stopped. When we asked Preshnee about it, she told us that the company had shut down. We were extremely angry and began investigating whether Preshnee had committed any kind of fraud and also if with other people. My daughter had paid R1,800 initially as a so-called ‘consulting fee’ to join the company. Preshnee had
explained that this payment was mandatory.
During our investigation, we discovered that several other young people—mostly recent matric graduates or those actively looking for work—were also victims of this perceived fraud. I tried calling Preshnee, but she never responded to our messages and eventually switched off her phone. I want to expose her and the seemingly fraudulent companies she’s allegedly operating. She has been targeting teenagers, asking them for copies of their ID documents, opening bank accounts in their names and seemingly registering companies using their details. We still don’t know whether she has taken out loans under their names or created multiple businesses using their identities. My only wish is for my daughter’s name to be cleared and for Preshnee to repay the money she owes my daughter. I want to warn all Laudium residents to stay away from Preshnee Moodley, who I believe is a fraudster. I believe that she has tricked many innocent people by using their ID documents to open fake companies and bank accounts.”
Emerald Str resident, Theshni Pillay, told the Laudium Sun, “I am also a victim of this seeming fraudster, Preshnee Moodley, who resides on Pearl Street in Laudium. She contacted me and asked if I was looking for a job. When I said yes, she instructed me to open a bank account, explaining that the company wanted to register me as a director. I didn’t know much about how companies work, but I agreed because I was desperate for employment. I told her she could do whatever was necessary under the job agreement, as long as I got the job. Without fully understanding the consequences, I gave her my ID and personal information. Preshnee went on to register the companies—Ackter Ville Dynamic and Oceanus International Freight—under my name. She also opened a Nedbank account in my name. I started receiving a salary of R5,000 per month beginning in February, but after two months, the payments stopped and all communication from her ceased. She had charged me R1,800 claiming it was a transport and consulting fee. But no transport was ever provided. We didn’t even know the real name of the company we were supposedly working for. The first month i worked for two days some small office in Randburg and then the following month at another small office. When I asked more about the company, Preshnee said it was a ‘secretive, low-profile’ company and refused to disclose any details. I became extremely frustrated and suspicious. Now some months later, I learned from others in the community that Preshnee was not legitimate. She is accused of using people’s ID documents to register fake companies and possibly take out large loans in their names. I want her to deregister me from SARS and other entities and remove my name from all records and companies she created. Most importantly, I want the R15,000 in unpaid salary that she owes me, as i believed that i was still employed by the company even for this month of June.
Preshnee must be held accountable for what she has done to me and many others.”
In response, Preshneee spoke only about the Naidoos. She told the Laudium Sun, “Alliyah Naidoo contacted me looking for a job. She insisted on getting the position. I informed her that she would need to open a bank account and register a new company in her name. From there, everything was her responsibility. I simply directed them where to go. They went into the bank on their own, opened the bank account themselves. My signature is not on any of the documents. She is the director—she went in herself, opened her account, and did everything independently. No one forced her. No one held a gun to her head. It was entirely her choice. I agree, Akka. She later sent me her ID and other documents. The two pictures she sent have since been deleted. Regarding the bank: no one can go and open an account in someone else’s name. I can’t just walk into a bank and open an account under your name. The individual must be present, sign the forms, and complete fingerprint verification. Her daughter did all of this herself. I tried calling the owner of the business and getting in touch with him, but I never got a response. The messages show two ticks, not even blue—indicating they were not read. I even tried again yesterday. So, how can they expect to receive a salary from me when I am not the business owner? I was just an employee, like everyone else. She was also employed and did not receive her salary. My brother is in the hospital—that’s where I’m coming from. He also didn’t get paid. Neither did my nephew or my husband, who works with me. None of them received their salary. How am I expected to pay people when I do not own the business? It is not my company. I don’t have a business. I’m just staying in the back of a house. Do you think I’m just some bored person with nothing to do? Using my name in this way is already defamation of character. And as for her claiming to have “proof”—what proof? She insulted us yesterday while we were running around for my son. She accused me of being on drugs. That’s a lie. If I take a drug test, I can sue her for defamation. I have multiple things against her and will pursue legal action. The only time I handed over money was when the R5,000 came through, and I gave it directly. I can show you messages confirming that. Now she’s going around blaming everyone who was working here.”