Card cloners hide behind respectability

MALALALNE – The Nkomazi subregion has become the hot-spot location for card-skimming fraudsters, all of whom are still at large as they are not the easiest of suspects to apprehended.

This past weekend was no exception with a local businessman photographing a group of suspected fraudsters and posting the footage online.

According to Malalane SAPS spokesman, Sgt Bheki Nkosi, although there are not as many cases reported and opened at the station, the number of occurrences in Nkomazi is very high.

“This is also not limited to Malalane alone, these guys strike any and everywhere where they can find an ATM. They behave as if they are also customers making use of the machine and set traps for unsuspecting users. There have been reports of this happening in Tonga, Schoemansdal, Naas, Komatipoort, even KaMlushwa, so it is not a matter of them only targeting towns,” Nkosi explained.

Busy weekends have been the syndicates’ preferred operating time, however lately quiet Mondays have also become another regular time for them.

Nkosi added that no arrests had been made as yet in any of the existing cases, however investigations are still ongoing.

The suspects who were photographed by local businessman, Mr Lex Hollman, are anything but typical criminals. They are presentable, dressed in designer clothing, and drive expensive vehicles.

Various tactics are used to defraud their victims. In most instances they will stand behind their victim as the latter makes use of the ATM, and even go as far as offering to assist.

They will then find an opportunity to hold the victims card and make use of a card skimming devices, which copies all your information from your card’s magnetic strip, located at the back of your card.

Anyone who may suspect or believe that they might have fallen prey to these fraudsters, are advised to contact their bank immediately.