Police are requesting the community of Balfour and surroundings to be extra alert to scams.

This follows an increase in reported fraud incidents, particularly banking scams, online impersonation, phishing incidents, WhatsApp account takeovers and fraudulent online vehicle sales.

According to Balfour police, common tactics used by perpetrators include:

• Fraudsters posing as bank officials and instructing victims to switch off the mobile or disclose confidential information such as one time pins (OTPs).

• Scam messages falsely informing individuals that they have won prizes and directing them to click on malicious links.

• Criminals hacking WhatsApp accounts and impersonating victims to request urgent financial assistance from contacts.

• Fake vehicle advertisements on social media offering cars at low prices to potential buyers, into paying deposits or attending unsafe meetings.

Police provided the following safety tips:

• Never share banking details.

• Verify financial requests directly with the person concerned.

• Exercise extreme caution when purchasing goods online and avoid upfront payments without proper verification.