Local pensioners warned against scams

Bedfordview police are urging pensioners and caregivers to be vigilant after a spate of card fraud cases were reported at the station, including one case where a victim was defrauded of close to R80 000.

The station has recorded 12 cases in three months where the elderly between the ages of 77 and 88 have been targeted.

The acting station commander, Sinothi Ndaba, said, “Most of the victims allege to have used their bank cards at a restaurant before they went missing.

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“For most, these are the cards they also use to receive their Sassa grants.

“It remains unclear how these cards are stolen or duplicated.”

The transactions are made out of the area with statements showing areas such as Cleveland and Edenvale.

“Victims state that even after changing their cards the perpetrators were still able to have access to their funds.

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“The old person will realise once they want to get groceries that there’s no money or that there is not enough money in their account,” added Ndaba.

Another scam making the rounds is false TV repair advertisements.

According to the police, old age homes are mostly the victims where criminals under the pretenses of TV repairs come in and take the TV to fix it and never return it.