Slick scam artist busted Brighton Beach SAPS commended for professionalism in arresting conman. 14 May 2013 A smooth-talking conman who allegedly scammed several accommodation establishments across the country was finally arrested last Wednesday in Bluff. The ‘guest’ Brendyn Mark Finlay, 40, arrived at the Ansteys Beach Self-Catering Apartments and Backpackers in Marine Drive at the beginning of May. According to the manager of the B&B, Michelle Bester, Finlay checked in and paid for the first night’s accommodation, a fee for brokerage and public disturbance. He drove a Mitsubishi Pajero vehicle and he was friendly with everyone. Bester said, “He claimed to be a chef and said he was relocating to the Bluff from Cape Town and that he was planning to open a restaurant. Brendyn said he had already moved all of his equipment into storage in Durban and was in search of premises. The initial reason he gave for not being able to pay his bill was that he had gone out drinking with another guest from the B&B and that they had swopped wallets. The pair met later that day but the other guest said that the wallet was not his. They then went to the bar but couldn’t find Brendyn’s wallet.” He explained that he could not make payment because he didn’t have his identity book and credit cards. The man then promised to make payment via electronic funds transfer (EFT). “I agreed, provided that he brought me the proof of payment. He e-mailed me a document but it didn’t have any bank stamp so I requested that he give me something genuine. Later, I asked for the proof of payment but he lied that he had already spoken to the owners, and that they have it. He had actually given it to another staff member,” she said. Bester said that after inspecting the document, she realised that it was incorrect as it was dated, April 29, 2013 for a sum of R540. Owners of the B&B, Rudy and Tasha Palmboom became suspicious and it was only after their daughter, Heidi searched the internet, did they discover that he was a known scam artist. Finlay stayed at the Bluff B&B for 10 days before he was arrested by police and charged accordingly. “The police came in and found him sitting in the communal TV room. He was shocked to see them and said he didn’t know what we were talking about. We told them that we came across a warning on the internet where he scammed other accommodation places. It was evident that he had been lying because he began perspiring after he realised he was caught out,” said Bester. Tasha of Ansteys Beach Self-Catering Apartments and Backpackers said, “He looked so legitimate and not like a conman at all. We do know that he was very clued up with computers because he often used our internet cafe. We became suspicious once he began scamming our guests. He approached a group of American tourists and told them that he was a chef and he offered to cook a potjie for them for a fee of R190. Later after taking their money, he said that he couldn’t make it because he didn’t have a potjie pot. He also promised a French family a tour of Durban for R400 but only took them to uShaka Marine World. We warned our guests to be wary of him and to not pay him any money. We are grateful to Brighton Beach police for their quick thinking and promptness which led to his arrest. They were exceptionally professional.” According to police spokesman, Cpt Louise Le Roux, Warrant Officer Alfie Randall questioned the owner of the B&B and discovered that they had found an internet warning about a man conning accommodation institutes throughout South Africa. He had been using the same modus operandi, used the similar name and surname and he fitted the description of the photo image that was being circulated. “Employees of the B&B verified that he had indicated that he was looking for a buyer for his vehicle which had a private number plate. Warrant Officer Randall became suspicious and conducted a vehicle circulation enquiry and found that it was reported stolen in Kraaifontein. Finlay was questioned and claimed that he was the owner of the vehicle yet he could not proof ownership and was arrested,” said Cpt Le Roux. He was charged with possession of suspected stolen property (vehicle) and appeared in the Durban Magistrates Court last Thursday where bail was opposed pending further investigation. The suspect has also been positively linked to another theft case at Baywater SAPS, Bloemfontein as the items stolen in this case was found by Warrant Officer Randall upon searching the accused’s room. More charges are expected to be added. “The vigilance and co-operation of the owner and staff of the B&B is appreciated by police. Warrant Officer Randall was commended for the professional and efficient manner in which they attended the complaint and conducted the search of the crime scene. This led to the arrest of the suspect, recovery of the stolen vehicle and recovery of the property stolen in the Baywater, Bloemfontein case,” said Cpt Le Roux. Caption: Conman, Brendyn Mark Finlay is seen on CCTV footage at the Zoete Inval Guesthouse in Northcliff, Hermanus in the Western Cape where he had also duped the owner of the guesthouse house. Photo Credit: Zoete Inval Guesthouse http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/chatsworth/chatsworth-news-general?oid=7453200&sn=Detail&pid=1171668&Slick-scam-artist-busted