Beware the scams and the gullible self. Kuils River police have noticed an increase in cybercrime – defined as criminal activities carried out by means of computers or the internet.
Station commander Col Jayce Naidoo says people are looking for bargains as the festive season draws near. Or they might need money and consider selling items.
Facebook Marketplace could assist.
But be warned it has become a popular hunting ground for scammers.
Sometimes they will respond to adverts acting as an interested buyer.
They will most likely send someone, even an e-hailing service, to come collect the item. They say they will e-wallet the money, the seller receives a fake payment notification, or the transaction is reversed.
There have also been occasions where sellers were assaulted and robbed when they get to the meeting point.
Sgt Gaylene Coetzee, manager information officer for cybercrime at Kuils River Police, warns of fake Marketplace adverts – whether for vehicles or other items. The prospective buyer might pay a deposit but will never receive the item.
They have had case dockets where flats or holiday accommodation were ‘‘rented’’ out. Eventually the person discovers the “estate agent” or company does not exist.
These criminals can be extremely convincing and goes at lengths to make things seem authentic – everyone plays a role and documents are made to look like the real deal using fake letterheads.
In one case the fake attorney even charged an “attorney’s fee” to arrange a viewing of a house that was “for sale”. The woman who received them at the house was likely not the real owner.
In another case the real owner was in the Eastern Cape when his property was being advertised as up for rent.
Naidoo says people should also know it is impossible to get a title deed in a day or two.
“It takes at least three months, even if you buy your house cash. It is sad to see how many gullible people there are.”
Identity theft where people open accounts in another’s name are another reality. Recently the local police received two dockets, one from the Eastern Cape and one from Mpumalanga, where criminals opened fraudulent accounts at two clothing shops in Kuils River.
“You will find out when you apply for a loan it will not be approved due to a bad credit record.”
Fraudulant calls
The local police say it seems to be mostly elderly people that are targeted or fell victim to fake calls pretending to be from your bank. The caller will often say it looks like there are some fraudulent activity or an attempt to do a fraudulent transaction on your account.
You must just confirm your details or the last four numbers of your account.
“People comply and later discover money was taken from their account.”
Card swops are still happening at ATMs. The location of some ATMs are also a matter of concern to the local police as they are situated in blind spots which make it unsafe for the public such as the three ATMs in a corner close to the Kuils River post office, Church Square. Even at shopping centres ATMs are sometimes in isolated areas.
‘Clothing sellers’
The local police warn there are a group of women that have been active at some of the shopping malls who gently lure in the “bargain susceptive’’ only to deliver a disappearing act with their handbag and bank cards.
“People are approach by a woman with an offer of cheap clothing – who can get them a discount. They go and sit at a restaurant where one or two more women join them. Somehow, they manage to convince the person to handover their handbag and bank cards. The person is told to go to the clothing shop where they will meet them again but never do.”
Shoppers are also advised to never leave your handbag in the shopping trolley as bags are often snatched. Beware of remote jamming in parking areas and check whether your car doors are locked.
Fake electricity officials, dressed in civilian clothes but with a tag and clipboard to gain entrance to homes made an appearance in Soneike last week.
”They also seem to target elderly people. They will say they have to check the electricity meter and will write on the clipboard – when they left the cellphone was gone.”
Recently there was a case where people were approached with a cellphone data offer at a shopping centre where sim cards were swopped, and money deducted from the person’s account.
Assault
Naidoo says water meter thieves will normally do a street block at a time.
“Take note if you hear dogs barking all over the street.”
The motors of electric gates are often stolen.
“Be alert during loadshedding.”
The adage, if it seems too good to be true, could also end: it might be stolen goods.
“If the price is way low, you must make sure it is not stolen goods,” Naidoo says.
The police are picking up a tendency of assaults increasing. Naidoo says it is shocking to see the root ‘’causes’’ – such as the food was not cooked or someone not doing the dishes. “The tolerance level of people is very low.”
He says the assaults tend to go hand in hand with damage to property – windows being broken or furniture damaged. Many of the assaults are domestic violence as it involves family members.
Naidoo says Kuils River police will place undercover officers at hotspot areas in the CBD over the festive season – the alleyways and close to the taxi rank/Shoprite parking area among others.
