Local police are warning the public against the dangers of responding to online advertisements and committing their hard-earned money to strangers without conducting a thorough background check on the dealers and sellers.
Spokesperson for the Ivory Park Police Station Captain Bernard Matimulane said the alert was prompted after an Ivory Park resident was defrauded of a large amount of money when she responded to an advertisement to purchase two vehicles. “The victim deposited R37 000 into two tranches [portions] for two sedan vehicles which were fraudulently on sale. Upon depositing the money, she was told that the drivers were on the way to deliver the vehicles.”
Matimulane added that the woman completed the transaction without checking if the vehicles, dealership or physical addresses existed and deposited the money without confirming the ownership of the account with the financial institution. “Shortly afterwards, the seller blocked [the victim’s] cell number after she constantly called him wanting to know when the vehicles would arrive, presumably because the [alleged] fraudster was already in possession of the money.
“A case of fraud has been opened and registered at the Ivory Park SAPS and the police are investigating.”
Station Commander, Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo added that to avoid falling victim to fraud, buyers should verify that the said item existed. “Buyers should check that the institution mentioned in the advert is in existence and that the bank account given are those of the mentioned institution.
“Some of the red flags of fraud may be the absence of a [landline] telephone number [if only a cell phone number is provided]. It is very easy to make email accounts and the tendency by the seller to demand money even before the potential buyer has seen the items, should raise questions.”
Ngcobo concluded that it is very important to visit the physical address and check if the advertisement corresponds with the items mentioned.
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/227926/police-warn-people-buy-cannabis-products-businesses-sell-cannabis-illegally/
