Police in Carletonville are urging residents to be extra careful following a sharp rise in fraud cases, with most scams starting on social media.

Colonel Wessel Prinsloo of the Carletonville Detectives confirmed that several residents have recently fallen victim to fraudsters claiming to sell goods via social media.

“People lost money after they purchased a variety of goods. We continue to warn people, but they do not seem to listen,” he says.

One of the most common scams involves vehicles advertised at incredibly low prices.

Police have highlighted a specific pattern used by these criminals. A car is listed on social media for a bargain price. When a buyer shows interest, the seller asks for a “holding fee” of a few thousand rand to secure the deal.

Once the money is paid into the seller’s account, they stop answering calls. In some cases, scammers even convince victims to pay the full price before disappearing.

Police warn that it is almost impossible to catch the criminals as they immediately withdraw the money and transfer it to several other bank accounts. The owners of these bank accounts are usually residents of the Western Cape.

The police also issued a stern warning to people who let others use their bank accounts.

Anyone who lets another person pay money into his or her bank account and then withdraw it for them, usually for a fee, is also guilty of fraud. By letting scammers use your bank details, you are aiding a criminal and can be prosecuted for fraud yourself.