Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Centrade/Sentrade 419 Scam Alert

I just got a call from an anonymous call centre for "Centrade" or maybe "Sentrade" that claims to teach people how to invest on the stock market. I was, naturally, the "winner" of a "lucky draw" in which my name and phone number just magically materialised out of thin air.
When I asked the caller where he got my number from, he vaguely said that I am "on the JSE" by virtue of the fact that I have a bank account. What a load of BS! If that's the quality of their course, then the entire thing is a scam. When will these guys learn?
Update Thursday 28th July: Today another company phoned. It sounded like the "Flash Business Network" but the line quality was really bad. When I asked where they had got my number from, he said that they had it on "their system" because I had recently "registered for RICA". What a load of BS! The number was registered last year with MTN when I renewed my contract. Eventually he hung up. I must really try to keep these guys on the phone for much longer.
Update Thursday 29 Sept: Judging by Centrade's evasiveness and secrecy, this looks like the classic 419 scam, where they get you to disclose your ID and banking details so they can empty your bank account.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Same experience with Centrade/Sentrade - Beware

Anonymous said...

I also got a similar call, last week. As I was going to be away - they said they would phone me back today (Tue) Full Points for follow thru.
I asked for their detail - contact no - in the event that i cannot make the call. They refused to give the number... and gave a long reason why they could not - I told them not to bother

ANDRĂ©

Eddie Webb said...

I had a call last week and the knucklehead actually made an appointment with me...I knew he wouldn't keep as I mentioned that I'm a broker myself and I'm just interested in the "free shares"...lol.
This morning.....lo and behold...another call....this guy sommer put the phone down in my ear.
Where can we trace them? We need to close them down, because they do catch people out and then they cause a distrust for all other brokers and advisors.

Anonymous said...

The idiots phoned me and could not give me their Financial Service Provider number and they do not charge any brokerage fees, for trading on the JSE, this made me suspisious. The whole world is movinig into a ressesion, all the markets are tumbling and they do not even know the spot prices of the blue chip shares. Be aware of these idiots that will do any thing to steal your hard eared money.

Anonymous said...

Same assholes phoned me as well.

When I suggested they just send my share certificates he had the guts to ask my address and bank details so they can deduct the courier charges...I just laughed at that suggestion and then he put the phone down.

Cowardly bastards!!!!

Anonymous said...

BIG SCAM WATCH OUT> As soon as you ask any pertinent details about them they hang up. Pity I was looking forward to my "free" shares

Anonymous said...

I just had a call from Kevin van Rensburg from Centrade. I had won 3 shares and he wanted to come and give them to me. After a long discussion he gave me his personal mobile number 0836610887 which nobody answers. He eventually put me through to his "portfolio manager" Pierre Marais, who after a long discussion gave me a Pretoria number which belongs to a private person. I phoned this number from my land line while he was talking on my mobile. When confronted with the facts he put the phone down. THESE PEOPLE MUST BE STOPPED.

Anonymous said...

I also received a call on the 27th of Sept. The guy also wanted to make an appointment to come and see me. I told him to phone me back on monday. I think I should make an appointment with him and invite all of you as well and then we can catch these bastards!!

Donn Edwards said...

These guys are really evasive so I think it is probably a variation on a 419 scam.

Anonymous said...

I just received simular call from call Centrade call centre with same approach, they could not verify where they got my number, but these peolple should be stopped. just be aware!!!

Anonymous said...

I just received simular call from call Centrade call centre with same approach, they could not verify where they got my number, but these peolple should be stopped. just be aware!!!

Michael said...

Can anyone verify whether this is the business?

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Centrade.Inc.212-643-2044

http://www.manta.com/c/mtbmpyg/centrade

Donn Edwards said...

I'm pretty sure they are NOT related since the scammers are based in Joburg, South Africa, not New York.

Michael said...

Thanks for that info. I was doing some tech support for this one in NY. No need to ruin their reputation if they aren't involved!

Anonymous said...

"Sentrade"/"Centrade" also called me today with the whole 3 free shares and all story. This is VERY OBVIOUSLY A SCAM so I tried to keep them on the line for as long as n could asking all kinds of stupid questions. Although I suspected something by the second word he spoke I am just really worried about other people who might be mislead by these guys. The other thing that concerns me is that judging from the other posts here these guys have been at it for a while now and I am wondering how many people they have robbed so far. So if you have this guy on the phone while doing a Google search for his company and you find this KEEP HIM TALKING FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, and then post a comment here about any details you got on the guys. AS for how much details I got out of the guy - I forgot most of the crap they told me though :).

Len Marinus said...

Had a call on Mon 16/1/12 from these same scamsters on similar lines than above. Do not under any circumstances give your ID number or bank details.

Anonymous said...

HAD A GUY CALLED JP TELLING ME THEY HAD THEIR 1ST DRAW FOR THE YEAR AND THAT I HAD WON A PORTFOLIO WITH A R1000 IN IT.tOLD THEM TO TAKE A JUMP INTO A SEWERPIT.WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH ME

Anonymous said...

9 Feb 2012; I just had a Centrade guy call on my cell - SA Indian accent. Blocked Number. I won R1000 in the JSE draw this morning and he wants to have an appointment with me. Where did he get my number - from the JSE. Where did they get my number - from my bank account and credit cards, they have all those details! BS
I said, when we meet, youll bring me R1000? No he says, the consultant will bring a portfolio worth R1000. Obviously, they set up the unsuspecting to pay money into an account believing the money has bought shares! I hope they call again so I can set them up!

Anonymous said...

Same story here! Just got a call from a call centre agent claiming that I won 2 complimentary shares on the stock exchange... I really don't have time for this BS.

I thought that with the new CPA companies are prohibited from calling "random" clients without explicit consent???

They are also very vague in disclosing where they found my number...

I am really sick and tired of this telemarketing BS invading one's privacy...really!

Donn Edwards said...

You're right. They are breaking the law: not only the CP Act but the ECT Act as well. But enforcement and prosecution is another story. That's why they are so deliberately vague.

LetsGetThem said...

Just got a phone call from Dewald offering me my 3 free shares. I have setup a meeting with him - how do we catch these guys?

Donn Edwards said...

Please get the company details: name, physical address, co registration number, names of directors, etc. You can post them as a comment on this page.

Also get the name(s) of their stock exchange brokers, so we can file a complaint of unethical practices with the JSE.

Willem Heckroodt said...

They are still at it, second time I have had a call about R1000 portfolio. Did not want to give me their details. Got cross with me when I requsted more information.
Think said he was from phoenix trading and all the crap abput got my number from the JSE

Think they are above the law, think will need vodacom to trace the number, on my phone comes up as unknown

Unknown said...

I also got a call now, I keep putting the guy off.
He's called me back a few times - very tenacious.

I'm going to set up a meeting to gather some info as well.