CRIMINALS always find new ways to scam people, and the Pinetown SAPS Fraud Unit is warning people to beware of trending scams and not fall victim.

Speaking to the Highway Mail, the detectives said the influx of various fraud cases are on the increase, and criminals are always finding new ways to scam people.

Pinetown SAPS communications officer Jennifer Naidu said one of the most common cases that they receive is of people depositing money for items advertised on Facebook without seeing them or meeting with the ‘seller’.

Also read: Department of Water and Sanitation on International Fraud Awareness Week

“The ‘seller’ usually uses an account that does not belong to them, and trying to trace the number is impossible as the number is not registered. We really would like to advise people to not deposit money without meeting with the person or seeing the item,” she said.

Another scam is one that affects businesses.

“People should call and double-check the company’s banking details before paying. What the criminals are doing now is they intercept or duplicate emails – it looks convincing, and the only thing they change are the banking details.

“We have witnessed people losing hundreds of thousands, and it is not easy to trace the paper trail. Some banks are efficient and try to recover the money, but it is not always the case.”

The fraud unit said they sometimes receive 25 cases of fraud a week, and not everyone reports cases.

The police also warned of WhatsApp scams where fraudsters get hold of someone’s number and impersonate them, asking for money from people in the victim’s contact list.

She also advised that people should use banks that have branches as it also helps police with their investigations.

“People must never share their personal details with people over the phone as fraudsters sometimes call pretending to be calling from a bank. If someone calls and claims to be from a bank, rather go to the branch,” she said.

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