Durban North SAPS warn of new ‘discount’ scam

DURBAN North police have urged shoppers and residents not to fall victim to the ‘discount scam’ in stores in Durban North and uMhlanga.

According to Captain Raymond Deokaran, spokesperson for the station, the scam sometimes involves the suspects posing as store employees and fooling unsuspecting victims to trust them with their valuables while offering a ‘discount’.

“There is a ringleader and several accomplices involved in this scam. We have had three cases reported to the station, which are under investigation. The scam artists usually target elderly women and prey on their goodwill and trusting nature. They approach the victim and convince them they work for the store and can help get them a discount for their groceries or goods.

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“They then ask the victim to walk outside the store or supermarket where several accomplices holding their ‘discounted’ groceries are waiting, who are in on the ruse. They gain the trust of the victim, and when the ringleader calls the victim back into the store, they are told to leave their valuables with the other ladies waiting outside so as not to draw any suspicion. In all three cases, sadly, the victims left their valuables with the ladies, only to realise, when they walked back into the store, that they had been duped and were left with their trolley of goods without their valuables,” he said.

In the cases reported, the suspects made off with cellphones and cash and in one case, a pair of shoes.

“The suspect who pretends to be an employee of the store quickly disappears when the victim goes back into the store to organise the discount. One of the victims happened to run out of the supermarket to see the scam artist, who pretended to be an employee of the store, and her accomplices jump into a getaway vehicle,” he said.

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Haden Searles, chairperson of the Durban North/Umhlanga CPF, said the scam is a longstanding one.

“These sorts of scams always target the most vulnerable and involve more than one person. This scam has come in different guises over the years. Sometimes, the suspects would take the money to secure the ‘discount’ and disappear. It is basically confidence tricksters working in tandem. We need residents and the elderly to be aware that stores will never ask you to leave your personal valuables with others in order to secure a discount. It just isn’t plausible.

“This should set off alarm bells in your head if they attempt to get you to part ways with your valuables. In the most recent cases, the suspects could have used fake name tags they had created. I would also encourage victims to report this crime to police as often vulnerable people are targeted. The golden rule is if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. If shoppers are uneasy in situations like this, contact the store manager or a store clerk at a till to find out if it is legitimate. Never hand over your money or valuables to anyone claiming to be a store representative offering you a discount,” Searles said.

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