Four days, R700k gone: Fraud wave hits eMalahleni
The five people were targeted in separate ways, including scammers posing as bank employees.
eMalahleni residents have been left in disbelief after five separate fraud cases stripped victims of a combined R700k in less than a week.
The scams range from corporate misconduct to online trickery, and occurred between May 23 and 26.
First incident
According to the police, a woman alleged that a company used her personal documents without her consent to make fraudulent claims, leaving her in debt.
Second incident
Another victim told the police he was duped while attempting to purchase a machine advertised online. After transferring funds, the seller disappeared, leaving the buyer empty-handed.
Third incident
Another resident was targeted by an impersonator. The fraudster, posing as a representative of a well-known bank, convinced a woman to transfer her money ‘for easier access’. Within minutes, her money vanished.
Forth incident
A fourth victim opened her banking app and discovered suspicious transactions that she had never authorised.
Fifth incident
According to the police, a supplier accepted payment but failed to deliver any goods. Upon investigation, the victim discovered the company had been deregistered the previous year, making recovery of funds nearly impossible.
A Klarinet resident narrowly escaped unharmed after being targeted by gunmen in a bakkie during late night hours
— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) June 2, 2026
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Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, verify company registrations, and report suspicious activities immediately.
Witbank SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer David Ratau urged residents to remain vigilant, verify company registrations, and report suspicious activity immediately.
“Avoid just clicking all links presented to you, and if something is too good to be true, avoid it. We are also pleading with the public to always go to the bank to confirm if they called and asked you to make some changes in your account, as there are people who are impersonating bank agents,” Ratau said. “If you ordered online, avoid following every link that will be sent to you regarding your order, especially where you will be expected to add your details, including identification numbers,” Ratau added.
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