Woman scammed off R80 000
Woman scammed off R80 000 by someone claiming to be an officer from the airport who has to deliver a huge parcel for her.
Four people have fallen prey to a scam where they pay money into an unknown bank account to receive goods promised to them.
Police have on Friday warned residents to be careful of such scams since the latest victim lost about R80 000.
Hercules police spokesperson Captain Bonginkosi Msimango said that police have already four cases they are investigating of people being scammed off money.
“According to information the woman who was recently scammed said that she was told there is a huge parcel waiting for her at the airport and money is needed to send it to her,” he said.
Msimango further explained how it happened that the woman received such a parcel.
“The woman said she was dating someone she met online who is apparently from overseas. She said she received a parcel from him but an officer from the airport called her to let her know there is a parcel for her that is too big and she must pay money to have the parcel delivered.”
“The woman said she paid R20 000 into an unknown bank account for her parcel. Then every month she received a call for more money which she sent.”
Msimango said the woman later realised there was something not right when she asked the supposed officer from the airport why she is not getting her parcel. He said the woman then told the supposed officer she will not be sending more money to him.
“The officer apparently got angry and threatened the woman and that is when she came to open a case. This is the forth similar case that we received,” Msimango mentioned.
Msimango said this could be a modus operandi where some people on dating sites prey on women to steal their money.
He warned people not to send money to people for them to receive their parcels unless it is a legitimate company you know. He said people should also be careful not to buy things online on unknown websites. Msimango said even if people receive an SMS to say they have won something and they need to send money to receive it they should not do so, just delete the message.
Police urge the community to come forward with any information that could lead to the arrest of the people involved in this scam.
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