Be streetwise, safeguard your valuables this festive season

MBOMBELA – Silly season is upon us and crime is on the rise. Criminals are introducing new tricks and reviving old ones on a daily basis.
Police spokesperson, Brig Leonard Hlathi said that during this time of the year most people fall victim to scams and robbers.
”There are various tricks used to rob people.

There is also robberies such as actual cash-in-transit heists, in which vans were attacked, then pavement robberies, which were executed while money was being loaded.

There are also car robberies, old scams and new ones. Criminals tend to introduce new scams during the festive season because they know most people have money and they want to spend it,” he said.

ALSO READ: SCAM ALERT: Tourism department warns companies

“In the past few months’ cash-in-transit robberies were reported in different areas around the province. There are people pretending to be employees of South African Revenue Service (SARS) and claiming that they want to send people money from SARS. They then ask for the person’s information so that they confirm that they will be sending money to the right beneficiary.
“For example they will claim they are supposed to send R40 000, then they send R80 000. Immediately after sending the money they call again to inform you that they mistakenly sent more than they should have then ask you to reverse the R40 000.

You will then send back R 40 000. However when they send money to your account they use a cheque which they claim it will clear out after seven working days.

By the time you realise what they have done you would have sent them your money. On the seventh day you will not receive the money and your money will be gone. These people know once you receive a notification you believe the money is in your account and you will easily send them your money,“ he said.

ALSO READ: IEC warns of an email scam

The police urged the public to be vigilant at all times.
“When you walk to the bank, check your surroundings and avoid withdrawing a large amount of money then walking a long distance carrying it in your bag.

When you receive a phone call from well-known companies and departments, make sure you call them before giving them your information away. If it is close to your area go and visit them to confirm. Do not easily give away your information,” said Hlathi.