The South African Police Service issued a warning to the public to be aware of a fraudulent scam in which victims receive a text message stating that a police case has been opened against them.
Once they respond to the numbers that are provided by the fraudsters, money is extorted from them.
Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi, national police spokesman, said the scam came to the police’s attention after a case had been reported in Rosebank in January. It was followed by other cases with the same modus operandi reported in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, North West and Limpopo.
Also read:
• Scam: Woman threatened by ‘traffic department’ to pay up
• Jeyes Fluid ‘bomb’ message a scam
• Beware, computer scam hits again
• Beware of competition scams, warns Omo
“The victims received an SMS stating that a police case had been opened against them and that they had to contact a Const Baloyi on 060 800 8148. Other random names and different contact numbers were also given,” Mulaudzi said.
When the victims responded to the SMS, they were informed that a warrant of arrest had been issued for a traffic fine and that they needed to pay a certain amount, which had to be deposited into an FNB account with number 62017066201 or ABSA account number 4054021171.
In case you receive this kind of SMS, contact your nearest police station. Alternatively, contact D/Lt DK Hattingh of the National Investigation Unit (NINU) on 079 695 0293 or email HattingDebbie@saps.gov.za
