UMBILO SAPS has urged residents not to fall victim to an apparent scam where a man posing as a police officer attempted to defraud a young man out of money.
According to Capt Pumzile Makaula from Umbilo SAPS, the alleged scam came to light last month, after a man, posing as a Supt Marius Olivier, contacted the young man claiming that a warrant of arrest had been issued against him on a rape charge.
The man allegedly asked for money so that the accuser, who was allegedly a sex worker, would drop the charges.
The suspect warned that if the man failed to pay the money he would be arrested.
The man was told to visit the Umbilo police station with the money where he would be seen to.
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Makaula said no rape cases appeared in the charge book at Umbilo SAPS for the dates mentioned by ‘Olivier’.
“We want to emphasise to the public that at no point will police ever ask the community for money in exchange for favours, and we urge the community not to fall victim to such as crime,” said Makaula.
She said residents also need to be aware that they have the right to ask for the name and badge number of anyone who identifies themselves as a police officer.
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