SAPS probe money-transfer fraud
The PIN selected by the sender is encrypted, not printed on the till slip, is not visible to Shoprite staff members or stored on the transfer interface system, and no one can withdraw the money without the unique PIN associated with a particular M number.
A 43-year-old woman from Makoko was shocked when she could not trace money she had deposited through Shoprite’s money transfer in town.- Jane Bulunga still needs answers about what happened to the R2 910 she allegedly deposited at Shoprite in Brown Street to pay a woman she owed in Bushbuckridge on October 19.- “I was surprised when she called me to say she never received the money two days after I made the deposit. – “I went to the shop to enquire about this and I was told that I used my own ID number to withdraw the money in Cape Town. I told them I was never in Cape Town. Myself, the woman and the shop are the only people who knew my withdrawal PIN,” Bulunga said.- “I need the shop to trace this and refund my hard-earned cash. Where will I get such an amount of money to pay my debt at this time of the year again?” she asked.
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In response, the media desk of Shoprite Holdings said, “We would like to urge any customer who is the victim of fraud to open a case with the police so that such matters may be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. Shoprite will always assist in providing all available information to assist the police with their investigation into alleged fraud incidents.- “The management of Shoprite Brown Street in Mbombela has advised the customer of this process and the local SAPS have already been at the store to obtain more details.- “Our experience is that some customers are unfortunately not careful enough with their money transfer details, or put their trust in the wrong people who steal their money, and we once again appeal to customers to be vigilant at all times when sharing the withdrawal details with the intended recipient.-
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“Shoprite stores offer a safe and convenient money transfer service at its Money Market counters, which is a way to send and receive money without the need for a bank account, and successfully processes millions of these transactions every year. – “The money sender personally selects and keys in a secret PIN, known only to him/herself, on the PIN pad when transferring the money and the customer will also receive a Money Transfer (M) number. – “It is important for the sender to share the M number and unique PIN chosen by him/her, only with the intended recipient and in a secure way, to prevent an unauthorised person from getting hold of that information with which he/she can receive the money at any of our branches.
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“The PIN selected by the sender is encrypted, not printed on the till slip, is not visible to our staff members or stored on the transfer interface system, and no one can withdraw the money without the unique PIN associated with a particular M number”. – Col Donald Mdhluli, the provincial police spokesperson, said the police were investigating a case of fraud.- “They were notified of the matter and a case was opened. It is in under investigation. – “No one has been been arrested. The investigation will determine the direction to be taken,” he said.
