Polokwane CPF warns of surge in fraud cases

POLOKWANE – Fraud cases linked to digital and scientific developments are becoming a growing concern for the Polokwane police station and the city’s Community Policing Forum (CPF).

CPF chairperson Rudolph Phaswana reported a sharp increase in scams related to online shopping, particularly on Facebook Marketplace. He urged users to exercise caution, citing incidents where victims deposited money for goods – such as vehicles – only for the sellers to vanish without a trace.

Phaswana highlighted the difficulty of investigating such cases, as transactions often involve untraceable methods like cash send services and encrypted conversations, making it challenging for officers to track down suspects.

In a particularly unusual scam, fraudsters recently posed as police officers to deceive an elderly victim.

They convinced her that her money was at risk of theft and instructed her to withdraw all her savings. Pretending to open a case on her behalf, they took the cash under the pretence of safekeeping, then returned with an envelope containing fake documents while making their escape.

Meanwhile, authorities have issued warnings about a different scam in the central business district (CBD), where criminals reportedly use a chemical substance to disorient victims, causing them to unknowingly hand over their belongings.

Over the weekend, a voice note circulated among locals, in which a victim recounted experiencing this tactic and only realising what had happened later.

A case has been opened, and residents are urged to remain vigilant.