WENTWORTH police have issued a warning over a steady increase in online fraud cases reported in the area, with incidents occurring almost weekly.

Police spokesperson, Captain Mbuso Gumede, said residents are falling victim to social media scams, where fraudulent sellers advertise goods online and request payment via bank transfers or digital apps.

Also read: Wentworth police seek relatives of deceased man

Police warned that scammers are exploiting unsuspecting buyers by offering attractive deals on items such as:

• Vehicles
• Refrigerators
• Laptops and washing machines (often sold at low prices).

In response to the growing trend, the police urged the public to exercise extreme caution and verify the legitimacy of all online transactions before making payments.

The police reiterated that financial institutions will never request confidential banking details such as pins or passwords via phone or message.

Residents are urged to remain vigilant and protect their hard-earned money by verifying transactions and reporting suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.

Reporting crime can be done at Crime Stop: 0860010111.

For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.