u/UnderstandingOk1933

I've lived in SA on and off for about 20 years, so I’m familiar with the culture etc, but there's one social dynamic I've never quite understood.

Over the years, several people I've hired for services, including various cleaners, a pet groomer and someone who washed my car, have eventually contacted me asking for money outside of the work relationship. Sometimes after barely knowing me, like after only one encounter.

Most recently, a guy washed my car once, then started calling me the next day asking for money because he’s in trouble. I told him no and blocked him, and the next day he came to my house, which made me pretty uncomfortable. I also have a former cleaner who worked for me very briefly a decade ago and she still occasionally finds new ways to contact me asking for money. She won't take no for an answer.

I completely understand that many people are under serious financial pressure, so I'm not judging anyone for asking. I'm wondering whether this is normal in SA and happens to South Africans too, or whether being obviously foreign makes people assume I have money and might be willing to help.

I'm also wondering if I'm somehow giving off signals that I'm open to that kind of interaction. I smile and chat a lot, maybe that's it?

I’m considering buying an apartment at Targowa 36 in Praga Północ, and I'm wondering if anyone here lives in the building or knows it well.

I’d particularly love to hear about noise levels in the street-facing apartments, safety, the building management, and any issues with the businesses on the ground floor. What's up with the adjacent building in the back without a roof?

Any first-hand experience with the building or this particular stretch of Targowa would be really helpful. Thank you.

I'm honestly shaken. Citi mailed me a replacement debit card because my current one expires this month. The new card never arrived. Instead, I got an email saying my online banking password had been changed, followed by another email saying my ATM PIN had been updated.

Within minutes, someone withdrew over $5k from my savings through a branch teller, then immediately made two ATM cash withdrawals.

I spent over three hours on the phone with Citi. My accounts are now locked while they investigate before deciding on reimbursement. What I can't understand is: how is this even possible? If someone intercepted the replacement card, how were they also able to change my password and PIN, then walk into a branch and withdraw money from a teller? Has anyone experienced something similar?

At this point I'm done with Citi. This is actually the second time I've had a major fraud issue with them. Back in 2021, $16k disappeared from my account under circumstances that still make no sense to me but I suspect an inside job.