“CONGRATULATIONS you won a 19 Piece Knife Set from HOMEMARK. To Claim your prize call 011 430 6000. Quote ref:#####. Prizes excl P&P. T&C apply. Reply NO 2b removed” is an SMS I received somewhere last week, not very excited about the prize, I delayed calling them until yesterday, after going through the press one for this, two for that etc, I reached somebody saying “Congratulations on winning this 19 Piece Knife set” and he went on about the features and what is included, but in such an unexcited tone that I thought he was having a burial somewhere in the background.
After he went through the details of the knife set, I asked: “How do I claim my prize?” on which he replied, I’m going to need your credit card number on which I replied, “Can’t I pick it up at a local Homemark store?” on which he replied, “We’re a mail order company and only deliver, but I’m going to need your credit card number so we can deduct for handling and shipping fees”. If I remember correctly, he said the amount would be something like R9.40 for shipping and handling which apparently is from somewhere in Jo’burg to Cape Town.
Skeptical about the whole giving my credit card number over the phone, I said I don’t have a credit card, on which he just said “OK”, he didn’t offer an alternative way of paying and then a dead silence after which I said, “Thank you, but I’m not interested in this offer, have a fantastic day”
The whole thing smells like a scam to me, especially since I can’t remember entering such a competition and the fact that they are willing to give away a knife set worth “hundreds” but not willing to pay the shipping of “R9.40″, almost the same as those schemes saying you’ve won the jackpot, please send us your details so we can send you the money on which they request a handling fee or something similar.
I’m not going to leave it there, if they tried to scam me, they will probably try it with a million other South Africans, the whole thing sounded so legit on the phone until he asked for my credit card number :(
February 1st, 2008 at 10:08
Bahaha, yeah these days stuff like this pop up everywhere.
I must say these scams, online or offline, are really ruining a good 2nd hand tech business.
Take Gumtree for instance: there are hundreds of second hand products being listed every day, of which approximately 10% are scams I reckon. This 10% makes me too scared to even contact the sellers, even though some guy might legitimately have the world’s best bargain just waiting for me to go pick it up.
Risk nothing, gain nothing I suppose…
February 1st, 2008 at 11:51
The number seems to be valid assuming that http://www.homemark.co.za is a valid site and assuming that the site’s security haven’t been compromised in some way, have contacted them via email regarding this matter, awaiting their response.
February 5th, 2008 at 13:18
i have fwded this to the 94.7 crime line. Since i too have gone thru the exact experience
February 5th, 2008 at 13:31
Fantastic idea, would love to hear some feedback from somewhere since Homemark themselves haven’t responded yet.
February 14th, 2008 at 16:11
I just received an sms from home mark stating that I qualify for an Italian coffee machine ,that is one great prize.Previously I won an inflatable bed and they wanted my credit card details of which I did not give out.
Home Mark is a well known company and you can find it in every city,best way of collecting your prize if this is genuine is by collecting your prize directly from the store and you can pay with a savings card or credit card.
February 16th, 2008 at 15:04
One trick is to find the cell numbers of the executives. A bit of Googling yielded Dino Hadjipaschalis (Executive Chairman Homemark). Of course none of this info is on their site as should be, in a PAIA manual. Rian Van Tonder is also mentioned in articles about all their court cases they’ve had to fight.
I lucked out in getting the numbers, but I would dearly love to send them an SMS:
“Excuse the unsolicited SMS, but I thought it only fair since your organisation is doing the same to me. Stop it now.”
Did that once to the CEO of Edgars - I emailed him. Boy did those SMSs stop and apologies start.
February 16th, 2008 at 17:10
Hi Simon, the name Rian van Tonder does appear on facebook, maybe it’s a good idea to create a secondary profile with a good looking woman and simply add him, maybe his number and details is on his profile, otherwise you can ask him while turning up the charm factor (that’s if you’re really desperate at getting back at them :P)
Created a group on facebook to help fight SMS and Email type spam, we need people like you to help fight spam and encourage other people to do the same, fantastic job man :D
http://sun.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2434861648
March 7th, 2008 at 12:05
Hey all,
http://homemark.blogspot.com here’s some answers to your questions. Homemark are the closest thing to the devil in my honest opinion :)
March 7th, 2008 at 13:04
Thanx John, that’s a great resource on how they operate, you’ve just opened my eyes!!
March 10th, 2008 at 12:04
I had received the sms in December while on holiday in Gauteng to let me know that I had won a knife set. I called them and asked if I could pick it up from the GP headoffice but was given the blah blah about delivery only since it was a home delivery competition. Since there were sooo many competitions and till slip draws at all the malls over the xmas season, I assumed it was for one of those competitions that I had won. I unfortunately paid the R99.00 postage fee. The knife set has been delivered but it is not the same product that homemark has advertised as R399.00. It came in an ugly grey case that resembled a screwdriver case. Just received another sms for a pot set valued at R 2 599. Its not even listed on their website!
March 15th, 2008 at 15:51
I’m shocked to hear that you’ve actually received something from them, maybe you’re one of the 5% that received services from them. I asked them about the knife set and they told me all about the fancy casing, the wooden block where you can put it in and they even gave me links to go and view the product online, I’m still skeptical though, asking credit card details over the phone is typical of scammers.
March 20th, 2008 at 15:22
i used to work for these guys if you are one of the so called gold card memebers i feel sorry for you.they will keep on snatching money from your credit card. you better phone your bank and cancell that credit card immidiately coz they do have your number on their system.
March 20th, 2008 at 15:27
Off Tel;011-4030508
Nana from aspek studios,please use this. thanks
April 2nd, 2008 at 22:22
I blogged the same last year, have had masses of responses from people going through the exact same thing. Ridiculous. I’ve even tried contacting Homemark for a response a few times and received nothing in return. What a joke.
Have a read here:
http://nicharalambous.com/2007/03/20/sms-spam-out-of-control-homemark/
http://nicharalambous.com/2007/12/07/homemark-spam-scam-continued/
April 2nd, 2008 at 22:28
Amazing, can’t believe they haven’t been closed down yet!
July 28th, 2008 at 11:46
I am having the same problem.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:24
my wife received an sms on her phone 10/09/2008, I phoned the number and gave my number to the braindead motherfucker on the other side, which he then proceeded to ask for all my credit card
details, of which I replied do you think I am that Fucking stupid, take your inflatable bed and
shove it up your ass, if anyone out there is stupid enough to give your credit card details, then
you do not deserve to be called an intelligent South African.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:49
My gosh, they spammed me in February this year and they’re still at it?
Thanks for the comment, your description sounds very accurate!
September 10th, 2008 at 11:58
They’re the devil, run by Avi Ovadia. I would love to get his cell number and spam him back with his own “You’ve won!” crap. How do they get your numbers?
http://homemark.blogspot.com/
I explain it all, as an ex employee, I know the dirt.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:00
It happend to me as well. I argued with the guy on the other end and did not give out my credit card details. I made a deposit (an internet transfer) for the amount of R99.95. I wrote on my proof of payment that I faxed to him, I do hope this is not a scam ect. ect. I will notify the right people if this is a scam.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:07
A direct deposit sounds a lot safer, you might even get whatever they promised to give you. The scam comes in when you give them your credit card details, they will then send you stuff on a regular basis and charge for it even if you never asked for it.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:12
The guy didn’t want to give me banking details. I said to him you know what my sister in law did a deposit into your account. I will get it from her. He said no it’s an old offer that’s why she was allowed to deposit it, but he will make an exception. I almost gave the details to him, she stormed me and grab the card out of my hand. Lucky me. Aren’t you surpose to sign an order for your card to be debited?
October 20th, 2008 at 9:14
Did you ever receive anything from them?
My gosh, they spammed me in February this year and they’re still at it?
Thanks for the comment, your description sounds very accurate!
Did anyone acutally ever received something from them?
October 20th, 2008 at 19:21
That’s ironic, I also asked for banking details to do an EFT or direct deposit and the dude on the other side almost seemed upset! Give your sister a big hug, she saved your from a lot of problems, have heard horrid stories from homemark and how they operate once they have your credit card details. Homemark, Verimark and Glomail all operate the same way and are still getting away with it.
I never gave them a cent, as I understood the setup well enough to not be scammed, luckily I was studying internet scams, phone scams, etc at that time, otherwise they probably would’ve caught me.
Some people did actually receive stuff, see comment #10 for example, but when you read other blogs regarding this scam, you’ll see that those people probably also had inflatable beds or other garbage delivered at their door approximately 3-6 months later and was then charged for it without their consent.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:40
I have had the same experience but was caught big time, in my DSTV guide at the end of September I recevied a Lucky numbers form from homemark, I had won a Super hose valued at R399.95, I called the number on the claim form and was also informed that I need to pay R99.00 p&p. this could only be paid by credit card, I stated that I would rather pay this fee cash and was told I could not, I then said I would collect the item from their offices but was told the prize had to be couriered to me. I gave the consultant the credit card details and was assured the only amount that would be deducted would be the R99.00. I received my parcel on 20/10/08 included with the hose i “won” was A jump start 7 day weight loss program with a Milex juicer machine, an invoice stating an amount of R698.95 was deducted off the credit card.
I called the homemark offices and was told that they would collect the additional item, and refund my card once the item has been received by the warehouse. I expressed my disatisfaction at this and was told that this is the way things are done. I asked to speak to a manager to which I was told the manager will only be in later, I have tried calling again only to be told the manager is unavailable.I am going to seek legal advise as this is nothing but credit card fraud.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:49
That’s bad, let us know what legal advice you get, maybe we can even make a joint action to take these scammers down.