Police imposters scam east resident out of R10 000

An east resident was scammed out of R10 000 by men claiming to be police looking for a suspect in Lynnwood Manor on Saturday.

Shane Julies (27) was walking down Lynburn Road when a White VW hatchback Polo with two occupants inside pulled up next to him.

“They were acting as if they needed to be somewhere. Like in a rush. Looking at papers. Looking around and such,” he said.

“I thought they were going to ask for directions but then they told me that they are police officers and quickly showed me a police card.”

First they asked Julies where his mask was and being nervous, he thought he would be arrested for not wearing his mask.

The men then said that there was a shooting at Menlyn mall and Julies fitted the description of one of the shooters.

“They then showed me pictures of guys that have been shot and they said I fit the description of one of the suspects,” he said.

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“At first I thought they were joking so I wasn’t being serious, but then they were talking on the phone calling for backup because they said I was not complying with the law.

“I thought I was going to be arrested. Which sounds so dumb but for some reason made me nervous. I guess they were trying to make me uncomfortable and give them information.”

He said the men asked him for his phone number, where he stayed and worked, where he was going and kept asking if he deposited money in a fraudulent bank account.

“They were very serious,” he said.

“I didn’t want to give them information so the one guy struck me in the face. I couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t fight two guys by myself.

“So I gave them fake info, but for some reason I gave them my real cellphone number,” he said.

“They also said they were armed. That’s what made me co-operate even though I didn’t see any weapons.”

The men then took Julies’ bank card, and without him noticing, swapped it with a Pick n Pay rewards card, covered it with what they called an affidavit which they placed in an envelope and gave it back to him.

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They warned him not to open the envelope and that he should show the affidavit to other police officials at the roadblock down the road.

“They drew money and they used the card to buy stuff at a wholesale in Silverton. That’s how I found out I was scammed. The last balance I saw before deactivating my card was a difference of R10 000.”

Julies did not open a case with the police.

Garsfontein police spokesperson Warrant officer Duane Lightfoot urged members of the community to report such crimes.

“Although cases like these have not been reported at the police station, we want the community to be extra vigilant as the holiday season is closing in,” he said.

“Crime prevention duties at the police station are planned and executed according to information received by the community when they report physical cases.”

Here are important telephone numbers for Garsfontein police station:

– Community service centre – 012-472-0144

– Firearm office – 012-472-0276

– Crime office (detectives) – 012-472-0235

– Switchboard – 012-472-0292

Detectives:

– Room 15, Mrs I Blom – 012-472-0441

– Room 3, Mrs C Van Schoor – 012-472-0315

– Room 27, Mrs A Steenkamp – 012-472-0200

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