The police warned the community against online scams.
They have seen an increase in cases of people “buying” items online, paying a deposit and then losing their money.
Capt Tania Marx of Secunda Police Station’s crime intelligence, said someone recently lost R10 000 in a car auction scam.
According to Capt Marieta Wright, the police receive between 10 and 15 complaints monthly from people who have been scammed online.
The items include vehicles, electronic equipment, pets and even containers.
The police urged people not to pay any money into an account for an item advertised online unless they could physically see the item in front of them or hold it in their hands.
They also warned people who advertise items.
Some scams include thieves contacting an advertiser,
The con-artist “pays the money” and then later reverse the transaction.
“If you advertised something and a potential buyer contacts you and said he paid the money into your account, withdraw that money first or transfer it to one of your other accounts, otherwise the buyer can reverse the transaction,” said Wright.
