It seems like these days there is a scammer waiting around every corner to trick unsuspecting victims.
From recording your voice to use for sinister purposes, to trying to gain access to your property. These are the two main scams currently doing the rounds in Potchefstroom.
Recording your voice:
According to residents, they have received calls from a man claiming to be from customer service. People are unable to hear from which company the person is calling. The person keeps on repeating the phrase ‘can you hear me?’ until you answer with yes.
Apparently, the unsuspecting victim’s voice is then recorded and is used to sign them up for all sorts of things ranging from subscriptions to policies.
It is advised that when receiving spam or customer service calls, to rather answer with ‘I hear you’ instead of yes.
Messages of outstanding accounts:
Residents have been receiving messages claiming to be from J.B. Marks municipality. The messages claim the person has an amount outstanding on their municipal services account and if not paid, their electricity will be cut off.
The messages also state that someone will be going to the property in the next two hours to cut off the electricity.
“These messages are a scam and not from the municipality,” Pieter Steyn, VF Plus counsellor, said in a statement.
Residents are advised that outstanding amounts are only to be paid to the municipality itself and never to an electrician or private person.
No one needs to enter your property in order to cut off electricity. The municipality can cut electricity from a mini substation.
Cut lists are handled from Monday to Thursday. Not over weekends.
People speak out on scams
Belinda Swart said that she has been scammed on three separate occasions.
“Watch out for RAM SMSs, I have never used their services and got a SMS that I had to make a payment for delivery from them. The scammers then take money out of your bank account as soon as you follow the link or make the payment,” Jarize Bezuidenhout said on Facebook.
