The Station Commander of Ivory Park SAPS, Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo, is worried about an increasing number of people in the Ivory Park policing area falling prey to fraudulent activities, most of which are committed via cellphones and websites purporting to sell goods.
According to the Ivory Park SAPS communication officer Capt Bernard Matimulane, an Ivory Park man has opened a case of fraud after more than R6 000 was withdrawn from his bank account.
“His shock discovery came after he received a call from people purporting to be from a cellphone company who asked him some questions after which a sim swap was committed from his phone without his knowledge. This was then followed by a withdrawal,” said Matimulane.
Matimulane emphasised that several cases of fraud have been opened of people whose monies have been transferred, withdrawn or even purchased items by people unknown to them.
“In many of the cases the victims receive phone calls from people claiming to be from a bank, followed by a loss of signal as the victim’s sim card is being swapped while they are unaware, and then, loss of money. In another case, another man responded to an advertisement from someone selling cattle. He went on to pay the money into a given account and never saw the cattle. By the time he went to find out the money had already gone,” added Matimulane.
“Just as a precautionary people should refrain from giving their banking details to strangers and to immediately contact their financial institution if they receive such strange calls,” said Ngcobo.
He further advised anyone responding to an online advertisement to satisfy themselves that the product mentioned exists and it is in the state being referred to as opposed to making payments into the accounts of people and entities unknown to you.
Any information relating to crime people should contact Ivory Park SAPS at 011 990 9600.
