Primrose SAPS urge residents to exercise caution when purchasing items online through untrusted websites or on social media.

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This warning comes as police have noted an increase in the number of fraud cases.

Primrose Police Station’s communications officer, Sergeant Styles Maome, said residents must be careful when making an online purchase due to the number of scams and fraudsters in operation.

He said online scams are a new modus operandi used by criminals.

The GCN recently spoke to *Martha, a victim of an online scam, to share her experience and create awareness about these crimes.

She lost R39 000 to an apparent online car dealer who pretended to be selling a car via social media.

Martha wanted to purchase a car with money inherited from her father. As her inheritance had not cleared Martha borrowed the necessary amount from her mother-in-law.

Browsing through social media she found a car advertised on a page that looked authentic.

“I engaged on the post and contacted the seller. They had their contact details on the post and their website looked authentic as well,” said Martha.

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“The woman replied to my WhatsApp texts and she guided me on how to make the purchase. Everything was going well and no indication of a red flag was displayed,” she said.

“The woman then sent me an invoice and I made a deposit,” said Martha.

“She said I had to make a deposit because the car was going to an auction.”

“Once I made the deposit, she confirmed to have received the payment and we proceeded. She asked for all my details, address, and everything else and said the car would be delivered once the paperwork was done.

“I later received a call from a man requesting that I deposit another R1 000 because there was an error processing my paperwork.

“I refused and an hour later I contacted the woman and she told me I am not getting the car, she just wanted my money,” Martha said.

“Hearing this broke my heart and I cried. How could someone be so cruel?”

Martha runs a chicken farm and she spoke about the business passionately.

“I was supposed to quit my job and focus on the farm but I have to continue working to regain what I lost in the scam,” said Martha.

The car was supposed to help her transport items for the business.

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Martha told Germiston City News that she seeks justice. Maome said the case was reported to Primrose SAPS and is under investigation.

Detective Sergeant Mpho Makhubela urged residents to read up on safety tips to avoid falling for online scams.
She encouraged the community to report cases of fraud.

“We have investigated cases of fraud before and managed to make arrests with the help of the victims,” said Makhubela.

“Fraud is one of the increasing crimes and it’s affecting our community.”

Makhubela provided the following safety tips:

Internet banking:

• Before making payment confirm if banking details are the same.

• When receiving banking details via email always verify the authenticity of the email address.
Online shopping

• Refrain from purchasing items on social media.

• Adverts on social media can be hacked, and legitimate adverts are edited with fraudulent information.
Banking

• No bank will phone you and ask for a OTP.

• If you receive a call instructing you to open your banking app hang up and report the number.
Payments.

• Refrain from doing immediate payments before receiving the items you requested. This will help your bank reverse the payment if necessary.

Vehicles.

• When your vehicle is stolen report it to the police.

• Officers will not instruct you to make a deposit for you to get your car back.

Police posts.

• Do not pay anyone for a police post or a promotion in the SAPS.

*Name changed to protect the identity of the victim of the crime.