The police in Carletonville are again warning residents not to fall prey to criminals who pretend to sell goods via social media.

“We get at least two of these cases every day,” says a senior police officer.

The money stolen from residents ranges from about a thousand rand to hundreds of thousands of rands.
Some people claim to be able to double or triple people’s money, and that their forefathers directed the victims to them.

Others are being enticed by unrealistically low-priced goods, ranging from electronics to vehicles.
Scammers typically pressure buyers into paying “holding fees” or deposits for these non-existent items, only to disappear once the funds are transferred.

A Authorities advise the public to remain skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and never pay upfront for goods that you have not seen in person without verifying the legitimacy of the seller.