A Dundee woman has urged consumers to remain vigilant after she was allegedly targeted in an attempted bank card scam following a visit to a local confectionery shop last month.

Mrs Govender, who declined to disclose her first name, said the incident occurred on May 19 when she stopped at a bakery after work to buy scones and other baked goods.

According to Govender, her purchase came to R68. She claimed that when she attempted to tap her card, she was informed that the card machine did not have a tap facility and handed her card to the shop owner to process the payment.

Govender alleged that while the transaction was being processed, the owner repeatedly encouraged her to buy an additional pastry.

“He kept telling me to try it and pointed to trays of the product, asking me to count how many were there,” she claimed.

Govender said she became suspicious of the interaction.

“I asked why he was forcing me to buy something I didn’t want. I only looked away for a few seconds, but I felt something wasn’t right,” she said.

The payment was eventually completed and Govender entered her PIN before leaving the shop.

Later that evening, she claimed to have received a banking notification requesting approval for a transaction of 11,845 Pakistani rupees, equivalent to about R700.

“I immediately rejected it because I believed it was linked to what had happened earlier,” she said.

Consumer urges vigilance when making card payments

Govender said she later received a verification code linked to the attempted transaction and contacted her bank the following day. Her card was immediately blocked and replaced.

She also reported the matter to the South African Police Service.

Govender urged consumers never to allow their bank cards out of their sight when making purchases.

“It is not fair that people support local businesses and then feel they may be at risk. I want consumers to protect their cards at all times,” she said.

The allegations have not been tested in court and no findings have been made against the business concerned.

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