Police warn students of fake prophets targeting them.
Johannesburg Central Police Station is investigating several cases of theft by false pretence where university and college students are being targeted. According to Captain Xoli Mbele, the modus operandi of the bogus prophets is to stop a student and ask them if they know someone by the name of so and so. “After that the false prophet will start prophesying telling the victim that they are being bewitched. The prophet will then take the victim with a car driven by his accomplices – male and a female inside.”
From here the victim is instructed on what they can do to rid themselves of the evil spirits. One of the recent incidents of this resulted in one student being robbed of her and her roommate’s gadgets after believing the suspects. Mbele explained, “One of the victims was told to go and fetch her laptop and laptops of her roommates. She took four laptops and two of her cellphones and jumped into their car. The false prophet took her to a store to buy salt and still water and waited for her outside. When she returned from the store the false prophet was nowhere to be found.”
Police have warned students and public in general to be vigilant and not to listen to any person whom they met on the streets who starts prophesying to them. Mbele said, “Genuine prophets will not tell you to go and fetch your laptops and cellphones to pray for them.”
Those that might be targeted by the bogus prophets are urged to take note of the registration number, make and model and colour of the vehicle being used. This along with a description of the prophets and the clothes they are wearing should be reported to the nearest police station as soon as possible.
Details: CrimeStop 08600 10111.
