Public warned of city scammers and fraudsters
These fraudsters convince the unsuspecting people who are interested in renting a property to deposit a certain amount of money before the viewing and occupation of the property.
With schools reopening, Pretoria Central police are urging citizens to be on the lookout for scammers.
During this time of the year, the city experiences an influx of people looking for jobs and students returning to schools, colleges, and universities.
The public should be aware of opportunistic crimes that prevail at the start of the year especially in the CBD.
Pretoria Central police spokesperson Captain Augustinah Selepe said a number of cases are usually reported to the station where students get robbed or scammed by bogus prophets.
Bogus online property agencies are rife and those looking for accommodation are urged to be cautious and visit the agency offices.
“We further wish to warn the public about job scams opportunities that are published online, on social media, on posters, and flyers. A legit company, firm, or organisation would never ask for upfront fees or payment before, during, and/or after the recruitment process,” Selepe said.
“Never send any form of payment to a potential employer you apply to. Insist on an in-person meeting and meet in a public space. Be wary of job offers that come with little or no interview process. Scammers will often avoid face-to-face interviews by relying on strange meeting places, chat services, WhatsApp, calls and Skype calls.”
Selepe said fraudsters were defrauding people by posting advertisements on Facebook and other social media platforms.
“These fraudsters convince the unsuspecting people who are interested in renting a property to deposit a certain amount of money before the viewing and occupation of the property. The fraudsters will then withdraw the money and disappear.
“We request the community to be vigilant, do proper research and not rely on social media posts or advertisements,” she said.
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