AN increase in online fraud cases have been noted by the fraud unit of Brighton Beach SAP, with a warning being issued for people to enter into online payments carefully.
“Residents should to take note of the stipulations of the agreement they are entering into prior to agreeing and making payment, as these are civil cases and not criminal cases,” said Brighton Beach SAP communications officer, Captain Louise Le Roux.
The following guidelines were provided by Cpt Le Roux to ensure safe online purchases:
* Take note of the name of the person or business and the deposit referral name. Should these differ, this could be an indicator of a scam.
* Don’t make any full payments unless you have viewed the item being purchased, especially in the case of second-hand goods or vehicles. Also, insist on registration documents before making payment.
* When using a service provider online to take out a personal loan, be wary if a deposit fee is requested to initiate the loan. In fraud cases reported, these illegal service providers delete people as a contact once a deposit is paid, with no loan awarded and no refund. The use of reputable financial institutes is recommended when applying personal loans.
* Contact 1023 or consult your local telephone directory if you are suspicious of a business offering a service or items, which you may be interested in. Alternatively, contact your local police station and ask their fraud expert to check if the business or person you intend to engage in business with has any prior or existing complaints against them for fraudulent activities.
“If you are aware of any person being involved in fraudulent activities in your policing area, report them to your local police station or phone Crime Stop on 08600-10111, where your identity will remain anonymous. By reporting these fraudsters you can prevent other individuals falling prey to crime,” said Cpt Le Roux.
