It has recently been brought to the attention of Ladysmith police that a scam is allegedly being perpetrated relating to detained persons and bail.
An individual pretending to be a police or court official will contact the family members of arrested and detained persons, and claim to be able to arrange bail for them. The contact may be telephonic or in person.
The family is asked to hand over money on short notice since, according to the scam artist, the arrested or detained person’s appearance in court is imminent. Once the family hand over the money, they never see or hear from the individual again.
In the interests of your safety this festive season, police warn the public to be aware of this type of scam. Should anyone approach you with a request like this, ask to see their official identification in order to verify that the individual is who he/she claims to be.
If in doubt, call the Ladysmith police station on 036-638-3308/3309/3310/3312 or 10111 to report your suspicions.
