Dodgy Solar supplier

Deckert

Deckert

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2004
Messages
425
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38
Location
Centurion, South Africa
Hello,

Crowdsourcing a bit of info here: Has anybody heard of Solar Power Africa?

Their website is here:
solarpowerafrica.co.za

SolarPowerAfrica

high-quality solar equipment for residential, commercial, and agricultural use. From panels to inverters, get reliable solar equipments
solarpowerafrica.co.za solarpowerafrica.co.za

I recently ordered some goods from them, went through all the standard online order motions, supplied delivery address, etc. Got a notification that an EFT is required. Received the invoice and duly made payment. Since then, they've gone quiet - no responses to emails, no tracking number, nothing.

So today I decided to drive out to their offices (address shown in the "Contact" page), but there's nothing at the address they list (apart from a huge Adcock Ingram building). Calls are never answered.

I'm out of pocket and with no response from them, I can only assume that I've been defrauded. But I cannot believe that their web presence has stayed up and their Absa bank account is still active.

--deckert
 
You've been scammed, sad to see it this far into 2025. This is something more akin to 2022
 
Deckert said:
Hello,

Crowdsourcing a bit of info here: Has anybody heard of Solar Power Africa?

Their website is here:
solarpowerafrica.co.za

SolarPowerAfrica

high-quality solar equipment for residential, commercial, and agricultural use. From panels to inverters, get reliable solar equipments
solarpowerafrica.co.za solarpowerafrica.co.za

I recently ordered some goods from them, went through all the standard online order motions, supplied delivery address, etc. Got a notification that an EFT is required. Received the invoice and duly made payment. Since then, they've gone quiet - no responses to emails, no tracking number, nothing.

So today I decided to drive out to their offices (address shown in the "Contact" page), but there's nothing at the address they list (apart from a huge Adcock Ingram building). Calls are never answered.

I'm out of pocket and with no response from them, I can only assume that I've been defrauded. But I cannot believe that their web presence has stayed up and their Absa bank account is still active.

--deckert
Click to expand...
EFT and lack of payment options like Ozow, pay flex etc is a first sign of scam site. Payment providers only work with approved shops they have check and verify.

No business registration number.

Typical Google Earth search of an address will show you if something exists there or not.

Happens to the best of us unfortunately. Go to the police and report. Last week a scam solar shop in CPT was shut down and the fraudster arrested after reports of the site being a scam.
 
Deckert said:
Hello,

Crowdsourcing a bit of info here: Has anybody heard of Solar Power Africa?

Their website is here:
solarpowerafrica.co.za

SolarPowerAfrica

high-quality solar equipment for residential, commercial, and agricultural use. From panels to inverters, get reliable solar equipments
solarpowerafrica.co.za solarpowerafrica.co.za

I recently ordered some goods from them, went through all the standard online order motions, supplied delivery address, etc. Got a notification that an EFT is required. Received the invoice and duly made payment. Since then, they've gone quiet - no responses to emails, no tracking number, nothing.

So today I decided to drive out to their offices (address shown in the "Contact" page), but there's nothing at the address they list (apart from a huge Adcock Ingram building). Calls are never answered.

I'm out of pocket and with no response from them, I can only assume that I've been defrauded. But I cannot believe that their web presence has stayed up and their Absa bank account is still active.

--deckert
Click to expand...

Sorry deckert. The money is gone
 
PCWARITM said:
Lay a case at SAPS. They might still be able to help with that phone number at least being RICA'd since it's the old 083 number. Hopefully they can track him/them.
Click to expand...
Can they track bank accounts? Or is it a case of privacy and the banks won’t give out that information
 
Sucks. Try contact them from another number, or use the stupid form as a new potential client. But I'm sure you've already tried that. Really dislike the website/design, & it's probably the only work that went into the actual "power" part of the operations..
 
denmendez65 said:
Can they track bank accounts? Or is it a case of privacy and the banks won’t give out that information
Click to expand...

Log the case and speak to your bank and hope you get lucky.
The bank account is usually opened with stolen identities and the phone number is pre rica'd.
Its very obviously a scam site. Next time ask one of the AI's, they would have picked it up quickly. Or ask on here if it looks legit.
 
B-1 said:
Log the case and speak to your bank and hope you get lucky.
Click to expand...

+1. The banks are actually quite sensitive to this. They know they're complicit in facilitating illicit flows, and it doesn't look good for them in terms of FATF etc. Though technically they can blame the victim like everyone else, you might also get a refund.

They'll ask you to sign an affidavit and an NDA because they want to keep up the pretense this isn't a thing.
 
PCWARITM said:
They can get a court order to get the info.

Also, contact Hostinger who hosts his website. Let them know the site is a scam site.
[email protected]

As evidence, it's almost a carbon copy of this site: https://sunvaultenergy.co.za/ - another scam site by the looks.
Numbers on this site include 076 287 9250 and 078 287 9250

Names for the 076 number: Nesi Malume M
Click to expand...

I wonz a 15% voucherz!

These people should die in a fire, slowly
 
Also, let me add: I'm grateful for all the responses here - never expected such a strong response. Thank you.

Case has been logged and the bank has already blocked the offending account (for what it's worth).

--deckert
 
Domain is quite fresh as well, and the registrar used is not a common one used for .za domains, so this, for me is an instant red flag
JKJQWM5Q06.png


EDIT: Also website is not even hosted here either: https://ipinfo.io/82.25.102.34
 
Last edited:
btw all the policies have emojis, which makes it 100% AI-generated. No human uses so many damn emojis.
 
PCWARITM said:
They can get a court order to get the info.

Also, contact Hostinger who hosts his website. Let them know the site is a scam site.
[email protected]

As evidence, it's almost a carbon copy of this site: https://sunvaultenergy.co.za/ - another scam site by the looks.
Numbers on this site include 076 287 9250 and 078 287 9250

Names for the 076 number: Nesi Malume M
Click to expand...
Yea, the site is an exact clone. Same registrar same provider, must be the same owners, just making multiple sites/domains to get traffic/orders
 
Deckert said:
Case has been logged and the bank has already blocked the offending account (for what it's worth).
Click to expand...

That's pretty good. Chances are the bank already had him flagged. Ideally they should have been blocking withdrawals as well. Keep pushing for your money back.

Given SAPS just can't be bothered, the banks have to step up.
 
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