Cellphone scams on the rise
The Kathorus SAPS has issued a warning to members of the public to be alert on fraudsters who use cellphones to scam unsuspecting victims.
According to the Katlehong SAPS’s media spokesperson, WO Mthwa, the scammers target shoppers at busy shopping malls by offering to assist them to upgrade their cellphones.
Mthwa said it is during this process of pretending to assist the unsuspecting victim that his or her phone is cloned and the SIM card information, which may include the owners’ banking details, is copied to the scammers’ phone.
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“Victims of the scam reported to the police that immediately after they are handed back their phone, it switches off and the scammer tells them not to worry as the phone is simply ‘upgrading’. The victim is assured the phone will ‘switch back on’ in 30 minutes time. By the time it does, the victims realise they had been robbed of their savings,” Mthwa explained.
Many of these fraudulent activities take place at shopping centres around Kathorus, but the Katlehong SAPS said they have received most of the complains from victims who have been conned at the new Sa Ntuli Shopping complex.
Members of the public are urged to contact the police on 0800 10111 or 011 617 3661 when confronted by the scammers.
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