Do not pay imposters – warn Moot SAPS
Major General Thine is concerned over the dangerous nature of the latest scam and urged the public to remain vigilant.
Police are warning locals in the Moot to be wary of scams and urge them not to pay R10 000 to a so-called standby prosecutor.
The Tshwane District Commissioner, Major General Samuel Thine said the scam, which involves criminals impersonating detectives from the SAPS Pretoria Moot, is on the rise.
The scammers look to defraud unsuspecting victims by using a sophisticated scheme to exploit the public’s trust in law enforcement, according to Thine.
He said the modus operandi was that the fraudsters call their victim, posing as officials from a state agency, and claim that the victim’s cellphone is being used by scammers to commit fraudulent activities.
“In an attempt to appear legitimate, the suspects then offer to assist the victim, stating that they can prevent further trouble if the victim agrees to pay R10 000 to a so-called standby prosecutor.
“Once the victim agrees, the phone is handed over to two other scammers, who falsely claim to be detectives from Pretoria Moot,” he said.
He said these fake detectives then threaten the victim with immediate arrest unless they paid the demanded amount.
Victims often realise they have been scammed only after contacting the real police station to verify the claims.
Major General Thine expressed his concern over the dangerous nature of this scam and urged the public to remain vigilant.
He emphasised that law enforcement agencies do not demand money in exchange for dropping cases or avoiding arrest and that any such demand is a scam.
He also reminded the public that paying money to make a case disappear constitutes bribery, which is a serious criminal offence.
The police have urged the public to verify any suspicious calls.
For those in the Pretoria Moot area, SAPS Pretoria Moot can be reached on the following numbers for any verification or inquiries:
012 331 3603/3598.
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