‘ATM helpers’ pick their targets
The police have confirmed an increase in card fraud cases and are urging residents to keep an eye on their bank cards and to report any suspicious events or transactions immediately.
POLOKWANE – Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says cases have been reported at the Polokwane station and these matters are under investigation.
This comes after a number of Polokwane residents have complained over being scammed and having their cards stolen just to have money withdrawn from their accounts moments later.
One resident, who opted to remain anonymous, says her father was at the bank at one of the malls in the city when the ATM declined his card two times.
During the third attempt, the man who was standing behind him in the queue walked up to him to ask what the problem was and grabbed his card before running off.
“He told us another man approached him to try and assist but we suspect there were people who worked together. The man who grabbed the card gave it to someone else and my father went after the wrong person.
“He then decided to stop the card inside the bank but by the time that was done R2 000 was already withdrawn.”
She says they suspect that when the man was behind her busy on his phone, he was taking footage of her father entering the pin and sent it to the person he gave the card to because that is the only way they could have withdrawn the money.
The money was withdrawn at a different ATM at the same mall and the resident urges others to stop their cards as quickly as possible to prevent withdrawals.
An elderly resident says she was at an ATM at another centre in the city when the ATM screen went blank and a man behind her stepped forward to assist.
“He came forward and started screaming that I should cancel the transaction and that left me a bit disorientated.
“Before I realised it he said the ATM had swallowed my card and he walked away. I tried to ask him how that happened then a car arrived and he got into it and it sped away.
“As I was trying to call the bank and stop the card, I got a notification that R4 000 had been withdrawn.”
She says she still stopped the card but the money was gone either way.
Mojapelo says they can confirm these type of cases are increasing and most of the victims are robbed by strangers who pretend to be assisting them.
“Please don’t let anyone help you. If you experience problems seek assistance from the bank officials. We are working together with mall management and security officials to combat the problem.”
Mojapelo says any criminal activities can be reported to the following numbers.
• Vispol Commander on 082 414 2314.
• The Relief Commander on 079 889 5794.
• Crime office personnel on 079 894 5541.
