Fraud incidents increase, says Hillcrest SAPS
Fraudsters are constantly looking for new ways to scam unsuspecting victims.
AN increase in fraud incidents has been seen throughout Hillcrest. Theft of speed points, ATM cards, vehicles, power tool rentals, and online transactions, among other things have become popular in recent months.
ALSO READ: How to avoid car sale scams
Captain Linzi Smith from the Hillcrest SAPS said, “We’ve noticed a new trend with the theft of speed points from gas stations and other locations; bogus paperwork are being submitted for power tool rentals; vehicle purchases from dealerships; and fake online internet sites. Paying deposits for products without seeing them is not a good idea.”
According to Smith, individuals must always exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings to prevent being a victim. It is also critical to stay up to date on the latest fraudster tactics in order to avoid becoming another statistic or victim of the above-mentioned trends.
Smith highlighted that if anything appears to be too good to be true, it almost always is.
She concluded that if anyone falls victims to any scams, they should immediately report it to the police.
* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
