Working in the banking industry, Erica Gibbons imagined a career of counting bills and checking balances.

However, a sudden spike in cheque fraud and bank robberies in the mid-1960s led her to step away from the counter and into a “war room” as the financial industry scrambled to better safeguard its assets.

With a natural knack for looking behind the veil of criminality, Erica soon became a force to be reckoned with. Her innate forensic abilities naturally exposed the underbelly of financial fraud and scams.

In 2017, Erica, a forensic director in the banking sector, and her husband, Peter Herwig, a salesman blessed with the gift of the gab, established Shelby Enterprises, extending their scope and investigative abilities beyond the corporate spheres.

Together, this Benoni power couple has worked tirelessly on investigating accidents, crimes, scams, and cons to bring those responsible to book.

When in investigative mode, Erica does not settle until she has unearthed each clue, toiling with it until the answers become luminescent.

“It is during this time that I retreat into my corner of the office, preparing intros and scripting talks as part of my side hustle as an emcee and motivational speaker,” said Peter.

Observing the interview and answering questions, off the record, Erica says that her work centres around the client and does not become an antidote to colour her field of expertise.

“I hate being in the spotlight. I work best on my own and out of sight,” she said, checking again that no notes are being taken.

Despite the many success stories in the sleuthing duo’s repertoire, Erica and Peter agree they want to use their knowledge to empower and equip the community to identify possible criminal threats and how to react, without embellishing it with ‘bang-bang-tales’.

“We have come face-to-face with the ugliest parts of humanity,” said Erica.

“It is startling to see the cruelty that some individuals are capable of; however, just because we have experienced it does not mean we need to shove it down the throats of others.

“The world is a scary place at the moment, but I believe forewarned is forearmed, and by sharing real-life practical tips, we could contribute to creating a community that can stop the threat of crime before it is committed.”

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Stay safe this festive season

With the festive season drawing near and those on the naughty list already planning their next big steal, which puts the lives of others in danger, Erica has the following safety hints and tips:

• Home safety
At home, always employ the four Ds and R – deter, detect, delay, defend, and response. Erica explains that this does not mean you jump into superhero mode if you suspect criminals have entered your property, but rather to create a safety net that delays them from reaching your home while you and your family are safely barricaded until help arrives.

• Safety in public spaces
With the festive season fast approaching, shops and malls are expected to become increasingly crowded, thus becoming fertile hunting grounds for criminals.

“If you are in a retail outlet that is being targeted by armed robbers, do not intervene. Remain calm, and comply with every instruction,” said Erica.

“These criminals usually target outlets with a specific goal, whether it is to seize newly delivered merchandise or to empty cash drawers. Although assailants may demand shoppers’ valuables and cellphones, you are not the target.”

• Scams and fraud
Scammers are always looking for an opportunity to get their hands on your hard-earned money. How better to gain your trust than by posing as an employee in your banking institution’s fraud department?

“When confronted with a call of this nature, do not share any personal information, especially one-time pins (OTP) sent to your phone,” she said.

“In cases like this, end the call as quickly as possible and contact the legitimate customer care line of your banking institution to verify and report the call. Immediately change login credentials on your internet banking profile.”

She further cautions against opening links received via SMS claiming to be from a bank.

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