A career fraudster was recently caught operating at the Karaglen Shopping Centre.

The man, who impersonates a police officer, was caught while trying to extort money from several businesses at the centre.

He approached a number of businesses asking them to sponsor outings for underprivileged children.

He claimed he worked for the SAPS TRT Unit (Tactical Response Team) and needed R350 per child for the outing.

The man showed his victims a fake SAPS appointment certificate.

When a manager at one of the businesses became suspicious, he asked the fraudster to return the following day.

The man returned the following day and was placed under arrest by officers from the Edenvale SAPS.

It was later discovered that the man was previously arrested in Gauteng and other provinces on similar charges.