Police warn of online scams after recent robbery

Loate police in the north of Pretoria are still investigating an incident from October when a woman was scammed via social media.

Police urged prospective Black Friday customers to beware online scams.

A woman fell victim to an armed robbery in Winterveldt Ext 3 last month when she responded to a social media advertisement for an ice cream machine valued at R8 000.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk said the victim initiated contact with the seller through WhatsApp after seeing the advertisement.

He said following a series of communications, she was directed to a location in Winterveldt to complete the purchase.

“Upon arrival, she was confronted by a group of five unknown men, one of whom brandished a firearm.

“The armed assailant threatened the woman at gunpoint, demanding her personal property,” said Van Dyk.

He said despite the severity of the situation, the victim was fortunate to escape physical harm, and no shot was fired during the encounter.

“A nearby community member came to her aid and helped her reach the local police station to report the crime.”

As the investigation into the Winterveldt armed robbery continues, police are working diligently to gather evidence on the perpetrators.

Anyone with information about the incident or similar activities in the area can visit their nearest police or contact the crime stop number on 08600 10111.

District Commissioner of Tshwane Major-General Samuel Thine emphasised the importance of exercising caution when engaging in online purchases.

Residents were urged to make purchases through reputable online platforms and to verify the legitimacy of sellers before meeting in person.

“Residents must meet in safe, public locations, such as police stations, to minimise the risk of becoming victims of crime.

The incident has sparked concerns as Black Friday and the festive season approach, a time when many people shop for gifts and holiday-related items online.

Van Dyk warned citizens to remain vigilant as scams increase during this period.

“We want to remind the public to be cautious and not to fall victim to these criminal activities.

“Scammers often take advantage of the holiday spirit to exploit unsuspecting consumers,” he added.

Scams can cost their victims a lot of money and cause a great deal of distress. By following these simple tips, you can protect yourself against scams.

Phishing and fraud scams are methods of deceitfully obtaining personal information such as passwords, identity numbers and credit card details by calling, sending emails or cellphone messages that look like they come from trusted sources, such as banks or legitimate companies.

Typically, these emails or cellphone messages request users click on a link in the email, which will direct users to a spoofed website – a site designed to fool users into thinking that it is legitimate. This is to obtain, verify or update contact details or other sensitive financial information.

These emails and messages also contain a telephone number and contact person whom you should call, as you are promised you could win large sums of money.

What you can do to prevent falling victim:

– Never respond to emails or cellphone messages appearing to be from your bank, which request your personal details. Remember that no bank will ever ask you to confirm or update your account details by email.
– Never provide your online ID, password or PIN to anyone and never write them down or share them.
– Do not save your internet banking password on your desktop.
– Do not leave your computer unattended after you have entered your internet banking password.
– Always log or sign off at the end of a session.
– Avoid doing internet banking in public areas such as internet cafés, or on any computer that can be accessed by people you do not know.
– Change your PIN and passwords frequently.
– Put sensible transaction limits on your accounts.
– Only provide your credit card details to reputable companies.
– If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
– Never send money or give credit card or online account details to anyone you do not know and trust.

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