Don’t fall prey to scammers
“To guard against being a victim, people should never give out their personal information
The Ivory Park SAPS is urging communities in its locality to exercise caution whenever they conduct transactions originating from the internet or via their cellphones.
According to Ivory Park SAPS communication officer, Captain Bernard Matimulane, this comes after a number of fraud cases reported at the station in which unsuspecting victims parted ways with their monies, and in some cases their vehicles, as a result of online transactions made without due caution.
“And in some cases people get defrauded of monies which were supposed to have been sent to their loved ones via money market transfers,” Matimulane added.
Among other precautionary measures, the SAPS advises anyone receiving a call purporting to be from a cellphone service provider to terminate the call as soon as the caller starts to ask intrusive questions.
Matimulane detailed one such case, in which an unsuspecting Ivory Park woman provided personal information to a caller who claimed to be from a cellphone company. “After their phone encounter and exchange of information, the victim had, without her knowledge, her sim card swapped and her money withdrawn from her account,” Matimulane said.
“To guard against being a victim people should, among others, never give out their personal information on the internet or over the phone. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a particular company but you are not convinced, rather promise to call back or request them to call you later and, in the meantime, find out if they are from the place they claim to be from.
“As for buying products you came across online, better satisfy yourself that the item in question actually exists, and that it is in the condition the seller claims it is in. And in instances where you are the seller, make sure you have the money in your possession before you give your vehicles, keys and papers to a stranger.
“And lastly, remember, jobs are not for sale,” Matimulane said. “As soon as someone claiming to be a potential employer starts asking for money for this or that, just cut off the conversation, as you will definitely get defrauded.”
