Social media scams on the rise, says Durban SAPS

AS the festive season approaches, Durban Central SAPS has urged the community to be aware of social media crime trends.

Not only is social media being used to scam the public with fake job offers or competitions, but according to Captian Muzi Maphumulo, spokesperson for Durban Central SAPS, social media could also be used by rapists and human traffickers to lure victims.

“Police have noted, with concern, the rise of scams that relate to social media platforms,” he said.

Maphumulo warned the public not to trust strangers online, noting a recent case whereby a group of women were scammed online by con artists posing as an advertiser.

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“The police are very concerned with people trusting total strangers so easily. The SAPS also fear that human traffickers can use the opportunity to lure unsuspecting victims through these social media platforms,” said Maphumulo.

He urged parents to educate their children to be more vigilant.

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“The Police are receiving cases of rapes and robberies that happened because the perpetrators started communicating with the victims on social media platforms,” said Maphumulo.

Scammers are also luring job seekers with false hope.
“It is alleged that people receive offers of employment from unknown people telephonically, and when they respond to the offer, they are subjected to crime,” said Maphumulo.

He urged the community to question offers that sound too good to be true.

“How can you just respond to a job offer for a job you never applied for, from an unknown person? How can you believe you have won a competition that you never entered?  Some scammer will call you, and you would be pronounced the winner of a competition you never played. But suddenly, a certain amount of money will be required by the scammer who insists that it is for the release of your prize,” said Maphumulo.