Honeydew police are warning the public to vigilant of incidents of fraud during the festive season and beyond.
This comes after a recent incident on 2 December where two suspects were arrested for banking fraud.
Honeydew police spokesperson Captain Balan Muthan said police detectives had worked in collaboration with First National Bank investigators to arrest the suspects after a thorough investigation.
“The suspects allegedly stole the personal information of clients and were able to manufacture 50 fraudulent bank cards. When we arrested the suspects, we recovered R37 000 in cash, eight cell phones, and the fraudulent bank cards,” said Muthan.
The fake bank cards could potentially have been used to defraud multiple bank customers whose personal information was obtained through fraudulent means, and businesses the cards may have been used at.
In light of this, Muthan issued the following safety tips customers can use to avoid falling victim to scams and fraud:
- Never respond to emails or cell phone messages appearing to be from your bank, which requests your personal details. Remember that no bank will ever ask you to confirm or update your account details by email.
- Never provide your online ID, password or PIN to anyone and never write them down or share them.
- Do not save your Internet banking password on your desktop.
- Do not leave your computer unattended after you have entered your Internet banking password.
- Always log off or sign off at the end of a session.
- Avoid doing Internet banking in public areas such as Internet cafés, or on any computer that can be accessed by people you do not know.
- Change your PIN and passwords frequently.
- Put sensible transaction limits on your accounts.
- Only provide your credit card details to reputable companies.
- If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
- Never send money or give credit card or online account details to anyone you do not know and trust.
The suspects will appear in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court soon to face charges for their alleged crimes.
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