Police warn against online Black Friday scams
"One must not be fooled by these criminals and must at all cost avoid becoming a victim of this trending crime."
West Rand Cluster Police have issued an official statement warning community members to be extra vigilant when they buy property online, especially during Black Friday.
Black Friday, which takes place on the last Friday of November, offers shoppers incredible specials in all imaginable shopping departments. However, the police warn community members that fraud cases have increased significantly over the past few weeks, and complainants have lost thousands of rand due to criminal scams.
In a recent case, a complainant saw an advertisement for a vehicle on special on the internet. The complainant called the salesperson at the dealership who told him to pay a deposit for the vehicle into a bank account. The vulnerable complainant payed an undisclosed amount into the account and arranged to fetch the vehicle. He only realised he’d been scammed when he did some research and discovered the dealership doesn’t exist.
“The advertisement on the internet looks extremely professional and convincing,” said Sergeant Tsepiso Mashale, the spokesperson for the Krugersdorp Police.
“One must not be fooled by these criminals and must at all costs avoid becoming a victim of this trending crime.”
An online goods dealership also warned citizens to not deposit money into bank accounts if they haven’t seen the product yet. “A tip for identifying fraud is if the seller wants payment before sending you the item,” the dealership said.
Photo: Pixabay
Black Friday special are advertised online, but do some research on the dealership online before buying products. Or rather buy products in-store.
Since the start of Black Friday this morning, shops have not been as full and trampled as expected. This gives community members the chance to get their hands on specials by visiting stores.
Police also warn community members of pickpockets and thieves during their shopping spree.
Here are some tips to keep your money safe during Black Friday online madness:
• We say it because it’s true – if it appears too good to be true, it probably is – specially if it’s advertised at a suspiciously low price
• A seller wanting payment before sending you the item is scamming you
• Avoid sellers who say they can’t meet you in a public place, and would rather deliver the item personally
• If a seller asks for personal information such as your bank details, your email address, or your debit/credit card number, end the transaction. It’s a scam.
On a lighter note, here are some funny videos of shopping fails to prove that online shopping can be a disappointing endeavour:
NFSV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6KmD3U7URo
Be safe out there.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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