With bank card fraud on the increase, police are keeping a vigilant eye out for those who are conning vulnerable people out of thousands of rands every day.
Winterton police officers made a breakthrough recently to fight this crime. Four suspects who were found in possession of bank cards were arrested at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) near Winterton on September 24. The officers were patrolling and received information about a suspicious-looking vehicle with four occupants close to an ATM.

“The members started to look for the vehicle and it was spotted. The four occupants were search and found in possession of various bank cards that do not belong to them,” commented police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane.

R1 000 in cash, which was withdrawn at a Bergville ATM was also found in their possession. “The suspects might be involved in other fraud cases where unsuspecting victims were robbed of their bank cards, which were used by these suspects,” said Major Zwane.

The four suspects, who have been identified as Stabiso Majiya (20), Sithuli Hlongwane (33), Mfanafuthi Shangase (23) and Thandanani Smanane (29) appeared in the Colenso Magistrates Court on Thursday, October 1.
They remain in custody.