****med by a supposed Excelsia Capital Executive

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Nobuhle Makoko <***> Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2025, 10:28 Subject: ****med by Excelsia Capital To: <***>

Dear Ombudsman

My name is Nobuhle Makoko and On the 22nd February 2025 I invested with Excelsia Capital under the leadership of Lindsay Tolmay. I invested R6800 and after a few days my trading profile reflected a profit of over R126 000 in profit.

I had asked prior to joining if any additional fees would be required after the capital investment. I was told that there would be none and the Excelsia would only take 10% commission from whatever I made. It turns out this was a lie and I got caught up in a vicious cyclcle which requires me to pop out money I don't have.

So, when it was time to withdraw, i was required to pay R10000 withdrawal fee. After this the funds did not transfer to my account and remained suspended in my trading profile, when I sent Lindsay the screenshot she said it's because I did not verify my account and because I had already initiated the withdrawal there would be a fee of R15 200. I was upset by this and I told her that as my leader I expected her to guide me through the process as I obviously did not know how things work. She made an excuse about being overworked and also being sick and she said that I should pay R7000 and she would pay the balance of that R15200. She said after this I would be able to withdraw.

After paying this and the confirmation for the receipt of payment by the platform, there was a message that I need to pay an upgrade fee of R10100 because, according to Lindsay Tolmay, trading was ongoing at the time of the transaction being done and my profits went up to R313 000. I was upset despite the supposed profit increase because I kept telling her that I'm not working and did not have this money but she convinced me that this after this I'd be able to withdraw. I borrowed money with the hopes of getting this profit. After paying this, the platform said I had a shortfall of R2500 and according to Lindsay,luno, the payment gateway used to make payments, had deducted fees/charges which resulted in the payment received being R9000.

Lindsay then asked me to top up and deposit R3000 to make sure that I have enough for fees and she assured me over and over that after this payment I would be able to withdraw. After this payment, another notice for a R5000 late penalty fee was brought to my attention this morning. This is where I realized that this is an evil vicious cycle. I'm in debt now because I kept being promised lies and held on to false hope.

I have lost a total of R36810 to Excelsia Capital so far. R6800 investment R10000 withdrawal fee R7000 verification fee R10100 upgrade fee R3000 Shortfall of the R10100 Total =R36810

Even as I write to you, Lindsay is instructing me to pay the R5000 and I'll withdraw. I'm refusing because trading will start soon and if I make deposit now, the profit is going to reflect an increase and more money will be required and if I pay tomorrow it's going to be another late payment penalty fee. So I am pleading with you to please assist me recover what I have lost.

I was only trying to get myself back on my feet by investing in this as I have had a rough few years of severe heart failure which led to hospitalization twice and loosing my business in the process.

Kind regards Nobuhle