Bellair SAPS warns of online scams
In one of the cases reported at Bellair SAPS, an unsuspecting victim paid R51 000 to scam artists allegedly selling a puppy.
BELLAIR SAPS have raised their concerns over a spike in online fraud cases with a reported seven cases opened in one week alone in August.
Acting spokesperson for the police station Sergeant Rachel Simangele Mseleku said that while the station recorded fraud cases on a monthly basis, all of the recorded cases in that week related to purchasing items online.
In one of the cases reported, an unsuspecting victim paid R51 000 to scam artists allegedly selling a puppy.
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“The victim spotted a puppy for sale – a breed was not specified – that they wanted to adopt online, and contacted the suspects via email. The suspects then said a deposit of R5 000 was required. A number of costs were then added on, all through the scam, with a ‘courier’ company requesting payment and then costs for insurance and vaccinations [needing to be paid] and so on. A case of fraud has now been opened.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing more of this where unsuspecting victims are being defrauded. I would advise residents looking to adopt or purchase a pet to look at reputable organisations rather than going the online route.
“I would also advise residents to be vigilant when purchasing items requiring large deposits, such as vehicles, appliances and vehicle spares. As a station, we’ve also done crime prevention drives alerting residents to scams,” she said.
Earlier this year, Carole Hibbert, an admin of The Puppy Scams in South Africa Facebook Group, which has more than 7 000 members, helps victims of online puppy scams share advice on how to avoid being scammed, particularly when buying dogs.
“The one thing we stress is for victims of these scams to open a case with the SAPS. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The simple way to avoid being scammed is to ask the person you’ve reached out to, to send you a WhatsApp video of the puppy, especially if they are out of the province. The other suggestion is to say you have a friend who would like to view the puppy, and would they share a pin location?
“In many cases, the pet courier scams have websites with spelling errors and stolen images. Do your homework and conduct a reverse-image search of the puppy you want, and oftentimes, you’ll find the image has been used elsewhere. We encourage those who have fallen victim, or suspect they may have been scammed, to reach out to us,” she said.
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