THE Brighton Beach Police Station issued a stern warning to the members of the public due to a concerning rise in incidents of fraud, particularly online fraud, within the Brighton Beach policing precinct. A significant number of these crimes are being reported in The Bluff area.

Also read: Help curb trade of stolen goods – Brighton Beach Police

Spokesperson for Brighton Beach SAPS Captain Louise le Roux said these crimes are notably challenging to police as they often occur within the privacy of victims’ homes or workplaces.

“Victims are frequently tricked into making part or full payments for goods and services without verifying their legitimacy. This issue also extends to services that are paid for but never rendered,” said Le Roux.

To mitigate these risks, the police urged the public to use directories or online resources like Google to confirm the existence of businesses or individuals posing as service providers.

“This precaution should be applied to a wide range of services, including holiday accommodation, carpentry and plumbing.

“When entering into agreements with businesses, it is recommended to request email communication and thoroughly investigate all company information, such as VAT registration numbers, business registration numbers and physical addresses,” said Le Roux.

Also read: Durban police issue warning against fraud scams

Additionally, the police stressed the importance of protecting oneself from phishing attacks.

“Cybercriminals are employing increasingly sophisticated methods, including phishing where fraudulent emails that appear to be from legitimate institutions often contain links to fake websites requesting personal information. Always type in the website address directly and never provide personal banking details via email,” she added.

Smishing is where fraudulent SMSs request personal banking information, often claiming that your details have been compromised. Do not respond to these messages or provide personal information via SMS. Contact your bank immediately.

Vishing is a scams involving a phone call from a fraudster posing as a bank officials, asking for personal information. Do not entertain these calls or divulge any information. Contact your bank directly.

Safety tips:

• Be cautious when scanning QR codes from unknown sources.
• Use reliable third-party QR code readers.
• Verify that the destination URL is authentic.
• Be careful about the information you provide after scanning a QR code.
• Enable two-factor authentication.
• If you suspect fraudulent intentions, report anonymously to the SA Fraud Prevention Service at 0860 101 248, the Crime Stop Tip-Off Line at 08600 10111, or the MySAPS Mobile App at 12310111#.

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