WESTVILLE SAPS is urging the public to be wary of a woman posing to be a detective and scamming elderly residents.

The station’s communications officer, Captain Elizabeth Squires, said a fraud case and case of theft were recently opened at Westville SAPS.

According to Squires, the scammer going as Detective Mudalay targeted a 93-year-old Westville resident recently.

Last week, the Highway Mail published a heartbreaking story of a Pinetown couple who was scammed by the same ‘detective’. The woman scammed the elderly couple of R500 000, shopping at various shops in a week.

Donald Bristol (87) said he received a phone call from a woman who introduced herself as Detective Mudalay, claiming to represent the SAPS.

Also read: ‘She said she was a cop’ – Pinetown pensioners scammed out of half a million rand

The woman visited their home and gained the couple’s trust by presenting herself professionally and claiming to investigate a card cloning issue.

The scammer requested Bristol’s bank debit and cheque cards, including the Pins, and also took his cellphone, saying it was needed for the investigation.

The Bristols complied with her request but emphasised that he never gave her his Pin number and has never had online banking.

Captain Squires said the woman targets the vulnerable elderly group.

“The station recently opened a case with a 93-year-old victim. This ‘Detective Mudalay’ contacts the victims to say their card has been cloned and she is a detective that works with the banks.

“She misleads the victims with her compassion, professionalism, kindness and does them a ‘favour’ by going to their residence instead of them going into the banks,” reported Squires.

With regard to the 93-year-old victim, the scammer also took the cellphone and bank cards.

“The victim spoke to a friend who realised the old man was being scammed. He contacted the bank and his account was immediately blocked.”

According to cases reported, the scammer wears a police cap and a golf shirt with the police star, which is not a regulation uniform.

“We urge the community at large to please contact their local stations when this ‘Detective Mudalay’ contacts them,” said Squires.

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