Between May and June more than ten cases per week were reported, said Sgt Frans Maponya, police spokesperson.
The police said that they could distinguish four different types of fraud which is common in our area. This include suspect phone calls, false advertising, bank fraud and identity theft.
In the first instance, people received phone calls where the suspect would claim that they are with the victim’s service provider and illicit activity has been registered on the person’s cellphone. The unsuspecting victim are then warned about sim swaps that will leave them stranded.
The suspect would then demand the person’s personal details, after which the alleged hacker gains access to the person’s banking or airtime account.
The same modus operandi applies to a suspect phoning a resident, claiming that their bank account was hacked and in order to stop the hacker, the account holder must provide their ID number or bank card number over the telephone, said Maponya.
In the third instance, opportunists are capitalising on residents need to obtain certain products which is advertised on the internet at discount prices.
The unsuspecting victim then buys this deal of a lifetime, which ranges from motor vehicles, trailers, cattle feed and luxury electronic devices or bulk groceries and cleaning materials by making electronic transfers and never receive the goods purchased.
According to Maponya, a resident lost R131 000 last week due to fraudulent deals. He said that two other cases reported came to a total of R5 000 and R30 000 respectively.
The third quite well known scam that is prevalent is when people received a SMS or notification that they qualify for a loan or they have been allocated a substantial amount of money.
In order for the person to be granted the amount they must provide their personal details in full and in most instances, deposit an administration fee into a bank account, after which case the money will then be transferred into their bank account, said Maponya.
With the cases regarding identity fraud that were reported, it has been established that forgeries of people’s ID cards or drivers licenses were made. The suspects would allegedly use these forged ID cards to obtain credit in the real ID holder’s name, after which the businesses would claim the outstanding debt from the victims.
The victims are then liable for administration fees and collecting fees as well, sail Maponya. No suspects involved in the online fraud cases have been arrested yet.
It is a long and tedious process to track down these hackers, said Maponya.
“The suspects in all these cases are well organised. They have enough personal information of the victim not to raise any alarm and then the unsuspecting victims comply with their demands,” said Maponya.
“We urgently appeal that residents do not provide any personal information to suspects over the phone, not buy products where the prices are unrealistic and to avoid online fraudsters by not giving any personal information. This will enable the police to focus on other cases in our area.”
