Within a week of being exposed 28 people claiming to have been defrauded by Tygerberg Caravans in Vredekloof have come forward with jaw-dropping stories of how they were bamboozled.
An alleged fraudulent scheme exceeding R20 million and counting is being investigated by the police’s commercial crime unit against the well-known caravan dealership that was placed under voluntary liquidation last Wednesday.
By Monday 25 fraud cases had been opened against the dealership by victims province wide.
The elaborate scheme involves a modus operandi whereby caravans were sold on consignment by the dealership but money never paid over to the owners; and others buying caravans from the dealership but not being able to do change of ownership as it was registered in the dealership’s name.
Outed on Facebook
The scheme was exposed after Green Point businessman Carl de Bruin-Fitchen posted his story on a consumer Facebook group.
De Bruin-Fitchen took his caravan to the dealership on 17 June to be sold on consignment for R267 000. He dealt with Wesley Dempster, the son-in-law of owner Ben Barber.
“A few weeks had passed when I was informed by Wesley that he had received an offer on the caravan and was busy drawing up the deal. After that I heard nothing from him and became anxious when none of my calls were returned,” he says. On 11 July he went back to the dealership only to find that his caravan was no longer on the floor.
“Again Wesley wasn’t available to see me but later informed me that my caravan was in a warehouse as the aircon had to be checked. He assured me that it would be back at the dealership the next day. He had a way with words and I trusted him. He told me the caravan would be handed over to the new owners on 25 July and personally collected the registration documents from me on 29 July.”
When after another month passed and no money was paid over to him, he contacted the dealership where one of Barber’s daughters informed him that Dempster had been dismissed for fraud and is under investigation.
“She said their lawyers would phone me, but this never happened.”
He managed to track down his caravan in Vermont where the new owner – who paid cash for the caravan into an alleged fraudulent account belonging to Dempster – is now unable to register the caravan to his name as it was reported as stolen. Nor is he prepared to return the caravan.
Forged signature
According to De Bruin-Fitchen his signature was forged on the change of ownership documents (seen by TygerBurger) given to the new owner.
“Many of the victims have seen hard times and sold their caravans as they desperately needed the money. We sold our caravan to pay for our honeymoon after getting married in April.”
Wilma Hofmeyr from Malmesbury finds herself out of cash and caravan.
“We bought a caravan from the dealership six weeks ago for R120 000, for which we paid cash.
“But we couldn’t do a change of ownership as we struggled to get the registration documents from them. We drove to Cape Town on a weekly basis to fetch the papers but were always given another excuse as to why we could not get it. In the meantime, not suspecting anything we took the caravan back for repairs three weeks ago only to later discover that it had been registered in the dealership’s name,” she says.
Her caravan is now locked up at the dealership pending the liquidation process.
Another aggrieved woman from Kleinmond, who does not want to be named purchased a Jurgens Exclusive Deluxe from the dealership in November last year.
“Their service was excellent until I took ownership. There were many faults including the caravan electrocuting us when we touched it outside. I could never get hold of the salesman on the telephone. On 31 May this year I took the caravan back and asked them to fix all the faults so I could sell it myself.
“They were very apologetic saying they had a few people looking for this specific caravan. They also said there were many caravan scammers out there, I should rather let them sell it. They said it would sell fast and asked me to leave it on the floor”.
It was to be sold for R490 000.
In the midst of a family tragedy taking place at the dealership at the time, the woman was advised that the letter of consignment would be sent to her soonest, but only received it on 8 August when after countless attempts over a period of two months, she finally got hold of Barber.
“Since then I haven’t been able to get hold of anyone at the dealership as they haven’t been answering their phones for the last two weeks. I asked a friend in the area to go check what’s going on, finding the dealership closed ‘for audit purposes’.
“I have five small children and needed the money desperately to pay bills, school fees and rent. I don’t think they have a conscience. I told them how desperate I was to sell it,” she says.
‘Home’ confiscated
Theadore Thelaner purchased a caravan that was delivered six weeks ago to his sons plot in Fisherhaven without registration documents as promised.
“Yesterday, the sheriff of the court came to confiscate the caravan in which we’re living for the last six weeks,” he said in a WhatsApp group started by victims.
In a letter Barber emailed to De Bruin-Fitchen last Wednesday and seen by TygerBurger, he denied him or his daughters having any knowledge of the fraud.
“I built Tygerberg Caravans since 1994 on good, honest business principles. Only lately have we found fraudulent and misappropriation of funds which has affected my direct family very badly. It has never been the way we do business and we are through legal avenues trying to sort this mess out,” he wrote.
Attorney for Tygerberg Caravans Rick O’Kennedy told TygerBurger on Thursday that a provisional liquidator is yet to be appointed.
“This should take place in the next 10 days or so. Pending investigation, the owners of the company is not in a position to comment at this stage. The process must run its course,” he said.
Provincial police spokesperson Capt FC van Wyk says police are in the process of obtaining statements from more complainants and more cases are expected to be opened.
“All the received dockets will now be thoroughly assessed and investigated. At this stage no arrests have been made since the investigation is still ongoing, but is expected to be executed in due course,” he says.
After many repeated attempts over the past week TygerBurger could not reach Dempster for comment.
Barber responded via email yesterday (Tuesday) morning saying all articles are being forwarded to their lawyers for action where needed, especially where false or unfounded accusations are made.
“I obviously cannot prevent what the media print or state. All I can request that they print facts, not hearsay stories.”
