ATM scammers active in east
Police have warned ATM users not to allow strangers to help them during transactions.
East police and security companies have warned shoppers to be aware of ATM scammers.
This comes after a 66-year-old man was almost scammed at an ATM in the Menlyn Maine area on Tuesday morning.
CSI security spokesperson Dana Bloem said they got an alert at 11:05 from a supermarket manager who suspected that some of his customers may be involved in possible card scamming.
With the aim to get more information CSI traced a man who almost fell victim to the scammers on the day. The man said he was approached by a man while walking to the supermarket.
“He said a man, dressed in dark formal pants and a light blue formal shirt, approached him and his wife and offered them up to 50% discount at a nearby supermarket,” Bloem said.
“All they had to do was to proceed to the ATM and collect their voucher.”
While at the ATM another man approached them to help.
The 66-year-old man proceeded to enter his pin but made sure that he hid it.
“The suspects then walked away from the scene and no money was taken,” he sad.
“They might have been trying to see his pin.”
Bloem said security checked the CCTV footage and found the two suspected scammers were the same pair that was at another ATM in the area trying to scam a different customer.
“According to information the same two suspects were caught on camera scamming customers at Newlands,” he said.
Police spokesperson Captain Koba Brits said a case of theft was opened at the Brooklyn police station.
“This is the first case of this nature in two weeks,” she said.
“The SAPS warns the community against excepting assistance from strangers.”
She said ATM users should not give their pin or identification number to anyone and they must ensure there are no devices in the card slot before using the ATM.
“Any information or assistance by the public in the prevention of future incidents and investigation in detecting suspects can be communicated to the Brooklyn police,” Brits said.
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