Beware of ‘helpful’ scam artists operating at local shopping centres.
Many scams are evidently going around town, and police have issued a warning not to fall prey to false promises of employment or cheaper deals.
In one instance, a woman was approached by two men at a local centre on Friday, June 6.
The men explained that their company was in the process of employing personnel and that if she was interested, she needed to give her belongings to them and wait at the door while they brought her an application form.
The unsuspecting woman handed over her handbag and cell-phone, and waited where they told her to.
She never saw the men again, nor her belongings.
After enquiring at the business in question about the promised employment, she realised she had been scammed.
Police are investigating a case of theft into the incident.
During the course of last week, another incident took place at a local hotel.
It is alleged that a man waited at the entrance of the hotel and as clients entered, he asked them to leave their items in his care while they enjoyed their meal.
He said this was policy at the hotel. The clients left their belongings with him and later, when they tried to find their possessions again, he had disappeared. Needless to say, the hotel knew nothing of the ‘policy’ or the man at the entrance.
He was not employed by them.
In yet another incident, a shopper was approached by two people who claimed they were employees of a particular store.
They said they could arrange a cheaper deal on products inside the shop, but in order to do so, she had to accompany one of them inside and leave her bags and cell-phone outside with the other.
Once inside the shop, the ’employee’ disappeared and when she went back outside, she found her possessions gone. Once again, the woman had been conned and the store did not have any such employees.
Police advise that if you are approached with a job offer or deal, verify with the department or store concerned that such a person is indeed employed with them and that they have a mandate to secure employment or arrange deals. Never let your belongings leave your sight, let alone leaving them with somebody you do not know.
There is usually a parcel counter available at stores for a customer to keep their property safely; rather make use of this.
