Scam warning: Polokwane resident loses R111k buying car on Facebook

POLOKWANE – The Polokwane Community Policing Forum has urged residents to exercise caution when purchasing products through social media platforms.

This comes after a local buyer was scammed out of R111 000 while attempting to purchase a vehicle advertised on a social media online forum.

CPF chairperson Rudolph Phaswana stated that after receiving the payment via electronic transfer, the seller became untraceable.

Such scams are not uncommon, according to Phaswana, as online transactions have increased significantly over the years.

The local police station continues to receive similar reports, and law enforcement officials find digital fraud investigations challenging due to the complexities of tracing online transactions.

Phaswana noted that the success rate of solving these cases remains low, making it even more crucial for buyers to take extra precautions.

He advised that potential buyers should physically inspect items before making a payment, especially when dealing with unfamiliar online sellers. He encouraged residents to explore safer purchasing methods to avoid falling victim to scams.

A 22-year-old female appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (March 19) on charges of fraud following a fraudulent vehicle sale.

Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the suspect was arrested on Tuesday in connection with a case reported at SAPS Westernburg in January 2021.

“The arrest follows an incident in which the complainant responded to a Facebook advertisement for a Hyundai i20 vehicle. After depositing a substantial amount of cash into the suspect’s account, the complainant never received the vehicle and was unable to contact the alleged seller,” his statement read.

Following a thorough investigation, police obtained a warrant of arrest leading to the suspect’s arrest.