Moot police have warned residents to be vigilant when advertising or buying items on social media, especially as the festive season approaches.
This comes after several scam cases were reported at the Villieria police station, said spokesperson Captain Coba Brits.
She said the cases involved residents and business owners being scammed out of large amounts of cash and items they are trying to sell through fake advertisements on social media and online websites.
“The selling of items, such as vehicles and furniture, on social media must be thought through thoroughly and residents need to be vigilant,” she said.
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Brits urged residents to not hand over money to the seller if they were not certain they would receive the product.
“In most cases reported to us, the modus operandi involves money being demanded from victims up front for the items or services advertised,” she said.
She said as the festive season approached, crime tended to be high.
“Which is why residents need to be extra vigilant,” she said.
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She warned residents to be vigilant and to not give out any personal information.
“These are but a few examples of the scams targeting old and young, rich or poor,” she said.
She offered a couple of safety tips for residents:
– If approached by suspicious persons at shopping complexes, call the security or parking lot attendant
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– Money cannot be “increased” by simply placing it in a bag or envelope
– Don’t place your bank cards, credit cards in an envelope if asked
– Police officers must be able to show their appointment card
She asked residents to help the police in their fight against fraud by reporting any suspicious persons or scams to the police.
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