Kaalfontein man falls victim to online scam
According to the police, con artists lure victims into making transfers into bank accounts with the prospect of good returns or lucrative rewards.
The Ivory Park SAPS urge residents to be vigilant when responding to online advertisements for items on sale.
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According to the Ivory Park SAPS spokesperson, Captain Ben Matimulane, the most recent victim of scammers is a man in Kaalfontein, who fell prey to the scam by taking an interest in a Facebook ad about a car for sale, but it did not exist.
The victim and the con artist conversed on Facebook until the victim transferred R10 000 into the scammer’s account, and that was the last he heard from him. The seller and the advertisement vanished from Facebook, and the victim was blocked.
“At the Ivory Park SAPS, a fraud case was opened, and an investigation has begun.
“It is strongly advised for prospective buyers to verify the authenticity of the goods, their condition, and the legality of the paperwork, particularly for vehicles.
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“Before any money is deposited into an account or given to someone, all of these should be complete,” said Matimulane.
The station commander of the Ivory Park SAPS, Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo, added, “Buyers should take all reasonable precautions to prevent financial losses, especially when purchasing through social media sites.
“Chat with others. People frequently keep their online actions private and only reveal them after the fact.
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“The proverbial horse has bolted by that point.
“One notable red flag is when the seller demands money even before the product has been inspected, seen, or confirmed,” said Ngcobo.
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