Editorial – The Internet Wild West (3)

Be very careful when selling via the internet, on www.gumtree.co.za for example.  Scammers abound, and whether Police follow up is questionable.

Typically, the criminal will offer to pay for the item sight unseen, by way of an EFT or a cash deposit into your account. Check such deposits carefully: In fact it will usually be a stolen or fraudulent cheque.  Sometimes the hoaxer will fax or e-mail you a copy of a deposit slip that he has altered to show that it is a cash deposit.  Check with your bank: They can tell if it is a cheque.  If it is, wait 7 days until the bank has cleared it, and check with the bank that it can not be cancelled.  Get the name and surname of the person you speak to at the bank, a reference number, and the date and time: If they misinform you, you want to have all the details for a complaint.

Some criminals will send you a "scan" of their ID to establish their bona-fides: Examine this carefully – has it been altered? Is the background pattern consistent underneath the ID number and name? Is there a watermark over the photo?  How do you know it is his, anyway?

If you are selling an item like a Blackberry or an iPhone, there is software you can load to track it: This is a good idea, as you are much more likely to get the Detectives' attention if you can pin-point the stolen device for them!

For handing over the item he's scamming you out of, the criminal will often choose a public place from which he can easily slip away, like a shopping centre parking lot.  Or he may send someone else, perhaps with a fraudulent "copy" of his ID.  It is better to hand the purchase over at his home or office, and if it's in the foyer, make sure the Receptionist calls him from his office –he might have just walked in off the street!

Of course, this caution also applies to selling off-line, such as via the classifieds or Junk Mail.

Odd Jobs

A midget fortune-teller who escapes from prison is a small medium at large.

High-end fashion jewellery. Silver, pearls and gemstones for all occasions. Shop D9, Hobart Grove Centre, Bryanston. www.marshajjewellery.com 011 7075268

New on the Block  Back to top

• Meat ETC., Shop G08 in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – Butchery and deli. Prime cuts, best quality. Suppliers to The Grillhouse. Come and enjoy a hot brisket on rye! Opened 13 Sept.
• Silhouette, Shop U41 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Sole importers and stockists of the Ika label of exclusive ladieswear since 2001. Moved from Village Walk and opened 13 Sept.
• Exclusive Books, Shop U37 in Morningside Shopping Centre, is expanding into the space vacated by Caprice.
• Graas Roots Vitamin Bar, Shop L06 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Health food, supplements and vitamins. Detoxification and energy diet. Right of Morningside Pharmacy. Moved from Village Walk in July.
• Babor Beauty Spa, in The Wedge, Morningside – "Mo Beautiful You", replaced Body Therapy. Shop 10, Upper Level.
• Hot Yoga Studio in The Wedge, Morningside – The Wedge Office Block, second floor (opposite The Firm).
• Butterfly Twists in Morningside Shopping Centre – Ladies fold-up pumps and boots: Carry spare footwear in your handbag! Open stall in the upper Atrium opposite Design in Motion.
• Extreme Eyewear, Shop U19 in Morningside Shopping Centre has become La Boutique Eyewear – Optical & Sunglass Couture. Eye testing, contact lens fitting on site.
• Yuanyuan Chinese Take-Away & Hot Pot, in Rivonia Centre, 369 Rivonia Boulevard – Soups, spring rolls, rice dishes, noodles, desserts and sauces. Next-day delivery.
• Piza e Vino Restaurant, Shop 6 & 7 in The Wedge, Morningside – will open around 1 November 2012 (TBC) where Piacheri used to be.
• On 2 November Nedbank will be closing in The Wedge to reopen on 5 November in Morning Glen Mall on the Upper Level near Capitec Bank.

Restaurant Review by Judith Back to top

***** Casa da Galina, The Codfather Group of Restaurants, 1st Ave corner Rivonia Road

A late night meal after a presentation and discussion at Wits seemed in order as the snacks were very salty there.  Casa Galina is a restaurant in the Codfather group and has a Portuguese flavour.  The service is excellent and waiters have a real sense of humour!  The non-smoking area was nearly deserted and the electricity went on and off initially.  Then the lights came on for the rest of the evening - Eskom or a kitchen fault?  Who's complaining.

We ordered hot chocolate and Spier Savignon Blanc, plus a Prego roll and clams.  Sadly no clams and none were available at Food Lovers today either.  Changed the order to Lullas Calamari.  Gloria, our waitress, organised everything perfectly.  The Prego was excellent, the calamari superb.  Her hearty laugh at our jokes made the evening great and the wine was excellent

Contact Details for Casa da Galinha.
 

Advertise here: Be Seen by up to 4653 Shoppers! Only R100 per issue for a banner like this or a similar square column advert!  e-mail us or call 082 389-3482.

Funny Language, English...

Heard on Radio 702 (the station that thinks Jenny Crude-Williams sending people for a "gluttonous feast" equals "sophistication"): "There's a stationary car on Witkoppen Road travelling towards Sunninghill..."

Got the Chop... Back to top

• Benmore Meat, Shop G08 in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – Butchery: well aged, real meat, no MSG, colourants or preservatives.
• Rivonia Fisheries, in Rivonia Corner, 362 Rivonia Boulevard, Corner Rivonia Boulevard and Eleventh Avenue – fish and seafood shop: Closed until further notice. A symptom of over-fishing?
• An-An, Kiosk in The Wedge, Morningside – Body butter, bath salts, room sprays, body sprays, candles, soaps, towels, etc.
• Culinary Morningside, Shop L11 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Expensive, exquisite cutlery, crockery, wine glasses, decanters, pepper grinders, tableware, kitchenware, cookware, pots and pans, kitchen appliances. Mostly imported.
• Cell C Morningside, Shop U25 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Cellphones, prepaid, accounts and contracts, cell phone accessories.
• Caprice, Shop U40 in Morningside Shopping Centre – Ladies' clothing and accessories imported from Israel.
• Body Therapy, Shop 10 in The Wedge, Morningside – Beauty Therapy: Anti-stress skin care, day spa, bridal package.
• redmango, Shop L06 in Morningside Shopping Centre – fat-free frozen yoghurt, premium coffee, health food, smoothies, parfait, fruit salad, wraps, sandwiches, fruit juice, special teas.

The delay of e-Tolling saved YOU up to R550 a month! Please give OUTA (the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance) some of it to pay the legal costs, at www.outa.co.za!

Getting Help

After recent events, Julius needed to see a doctor, saying: "Doc, I've hurt my arm in several places".

The doctor said, "I suggest you don't go there again".

Civic Beat  Back to top

Meet your City Councillor, raise issues of concern to you, and get contact details for Municipal entities:  Vincent Earp, DA Councillor for Ward 103 (parts of Morningside, Sandown, Rivonia and Bryanston), will be at Morning Glen Mall on the Lower Level East outside Wimpy, Bookdealers and Pandora from 10:00 to 12:00 this Saturday, 29 September.  Pop in, say hello, and renew your membership.

"Rock through the Ages", a dinner and dance, will take place on Saturday 27 October at The Rivonia Sports Club, 7 Achter Road, Paulshof, from 18:30 until late. Music is provided by the band "Bite".  They play rock music mainly from the 1960's to 1980's (Springsteen, Beatles, Stones, etc.). As a full band, they don't use backing tracks, instead producing real live music with a live drummer. This is a DA Ward 103 fund-raising event at just R200/head: Contact this address to book and pay.

Avoiding the Checkout

No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes.