AN ALERT has been issued to the Bluff and surrounds, as Brighton Beach SAPS experiences an increase in fraud cases.
Various types of scams have been reported to the police, including online cons, job scams, with people posing as workers, e-wallet tricks and faking beneficiary names. Job scams see people posing as carpenters, tillers, painters and landscapers, among others.
“The public is warned to rather deal with reputable individuals who have been referred to them by a family member, friend or a registered contractor to deal with home repairs,” said Brighton Beach SAPS communications officer, Captain Louise Le Roux.
People have been caught out online by paying either partially, or fully for items they have not viewed first. “Electronic goods such as a mobile phone and iPads, along with exotic birds, cats and dogs are very popular, including second-hand vehicles,” said Capt Le Roux.
She urges people not to make any payment until an item is viewed and found to be in a working condition. She suggests residents contact their nearest Receiver of Revenue office to confirm if a company is registered, look it up in the telephone directory or call the fraud specialist at the local police station to find out if any case has been registered against an individual or company.
“An influx of e-wallet fraud is also being experienced. Recipients will receive a pin code on a mobile device and upon entering the pin to make the cash withdrawal, they will be informed the funds have already been withdrawn. The public is urged to secure the pin code received for e-wallet payments,” said Capt Le Roux.
She said beneficiary fraud is also on the increase, with fraudsters using reputable company names to mask their intentions. “When you are making a cash deposit or transfer into an individual or business account, be wary if you found that the payee name differs from that of the person or business. Verify beneficiary information if you find discrepancies,” she said.
