Many have been delighted to receive an SMS claiming that Pick n Pay is giving away R8 000 in vouchers in the last few weeks. Consumers should be warned that this is a scam attempting to extort banking details from the unwary.
The company recently released a statement saying that it was currently investigating the case and that customers would never be requested to reveal their banking details, especially via SMS.
If you aren’t sure whether it was sent from Pick n Pay, contact its customer-care line on 080-011-2288.
Many other scam SMSes may have landed on your phone, claiming that RICA, OMO or other well-known brands have allocated prize money to you.
The best rule to follow is that unless you entered a competition, you should delete your “winning” SMS.
When in doubt, rather phone the customer-care line and not the number displayed on the SMS. With email correspondence it is wise to check the address. Staff members of well-known brands are likely to have email adresses linked to the brand’s official website for example, siphosi@pnp.co.za.
An interesting site, called scambuster.co.za, also strives to keep consumers informed of the latest scams. Here you can find out whether that fishy email or SMS is a scam, or report a new one.
If you have been a victim of a scam, the best thing to do is contact the police and open a case of fraud, whether it was in person or electronically via email or a website.
Local business owners should also be wary of business fraud, where fly-by-night businesses or door-to-door salespeople make promises without giving you documents to back it up. Investigate whether the business in question is registered at the relevant authorities like the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission at www.cipc.co.za or look for testimonies on the Internet on websites like hellopeter.com.
