A woman from eMalahleni fell victim to retail account fraud after someone reportedly made unauthorised clothing purchases exceeding R14 000 in Gauteng using her account.

According to the police, the victim said she was at her workplace on Novem

ber 6 at around 13:45 when she received SMS notifications alerting her to transactions made on her retail store account.
The first notification reportedly confirmed a purchase of over R3 000 at a clothing store in Sandton, while the second alerted her to a purchase of more than R11 000 at another clothing store.

Shocked by the notifications, the woman said she rushed to a local retail store to enquire about the transactions, as her physical store card was still with her.

That was when it was confirmed to her that someone had used her retail account to buy clothing.
Investigations into the case are underway.

SAPS tips against retail account and online fraud:

•     Protect personal and financial data: Never respond to unsolicited emails, SMS messages, or calls asking for personal details, account numbers, or online banking credentials.
•     Use strong, unique credentials: Avoid using simple passwords, never write them down where others can see them, and change your account passwords frequently.
•     Beware of urgency and pressure scams: Scammers often use scare tactics, such as claiming your retail or bank account is compromised and demanding immediate action within minutes, to force you into clicking spoofed links.

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