LIMPOPO – Limpopo Saps has noted with concern an extortion scam in which criminals are allegedly using the photograph of a colonel, Mosito Tumelo Ntsasa, attached to the Limpopo Provincial Technology Management Services (TMS), to impersonate a police official and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

The suspects are reportedly circulating and using the Colonel’s photograph on various social media platforms and other communication channels.

How the scam works

They allegedly contact members of the public while pretending to be the police official and claim that their siblings or other family members have been arrested and are being detained at a police station.

The unsuspecting victims are then allegedly pressured to pay money in exchange for the purported release of their relatives.

The SAPS wishes to make it clear that the Colonel whose photograph is being misused has no involvement in these fraudulent activities.

‘We will pursue every available lead’

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Jan Petrus Scheepers, has issued a stern warning to the perpetrators and urged communities not to fall victim to the scam.

“We are issuing a strong warning to these criminals that the SAPS will not tolerate the misuse of the identity and image of a police official to extort money from members of the public. We are intensifying the manhunt for the perpetrators and will pursue every available lead to identify and apprehend those behind these criminal activities,” said Scheepers.

Verify before you act

The Provincial Commissioner further urged members of the public to remain vigilant and to verify any information concerning an alleged arrest or detention directly with the relevant police station before taking any action.

Members of the public are advised not to:

• Transfer money
• Disclose banking details
• Share passwords, PINs or other personal information

Any suspicious call, message or social media account purporting to be from a police official should be reported to the police immediately.

Investigation underway

The SAPS is actively investigating the matter and is working to establish the identities of the suspects behind the impersonation and extortion scam.

Members of the public who may have fallen victim to the scam or who have information that could assist the investigation are urged to:

• Contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111
• Report the matter at their nearest police station