Although crimes in the Bult-area, a common place for students, has decreased significantly in the last year, statistics show that scams in the area have increased significantly.
Johan Naude, chief executive officer of Cachet Park Improvement District, says that scamming of students has more than doubled and these are only cases that are reported to them.
“Everyone, but especially students need to take responsibility for their safety. Do not hand over any of your possessions to strangers, no matter how good or heartbreaking their story sounds. Do not entertain strangers that invade your personal space. Do not walk the streets at 3 o’clock in the morning. Always be vigilant and take your personal safety very seriously.”
According to Johan, crimes like petty theft, robbery and assault has decreased in the area due to their camera system as well as visible security roaming the streets.
“We do get incidents where criminals avoid our cameras and still successfully rob or assault someone, but those incidents have decreased by 68%. The Bult-area is once again a much safer place then it once was.”
Johan continues to press on the increase of scams in the area and ask students to beware of the following scams which have left students devastated in recent months.
Religious scam:
Scammers have been targeting religious students claiming they have been sent to bless them. In order for them to do a blessing ritual or ceremony, the students need to go and buy certain items. The students then get in a vehicle with the scammers, who takes them to a garage or shop and gives them money to buy the items. The students then gets out, leaving all their belongings in the vehicle. Once they return, the vehicle with all their belongings has vanished.
Johan says that this particular scam has happened many times and students have lost laptops, cell phones and even expensive text books to this scam. One incident went so far that seven students lost their laptops at the same time with the promise of getting blessed.
Precious stone scam:
On a few occasions students have been approached by either a man or a woman, claiming to have a precious stone or diamond that they need to sell to someone around the corner, but for some or other reason (different reasons has been given on different occasions) they cannot simply walk around the corner to complete the transaction. The student is then asked to take the stone to the buyer with a promise of a sum of money when they return. But before they leave, the man or woman will then ask for their cell phone as collateral. The student then walks around the corner, cannot find the buyer and when they return, the man or women has vanished with their cell phone. The precious stone, which is always wrapped in tinfoil or placed in a matchbox, is usually just a rock or fake plastic stone.
Money drawing scam:
This is much like the previous one, with a man asking students to go and draw money for him with a promise of a cash tip when they return. The man then hands them a bank card with a pin, but asks for their phone as collateral. The students then goes to the ATM where the card is obviously not working and upon their return, the man is gone with their cell phone.
Oil buying scam:
This scam is again much like the previous scams. A Man calls to nearby students that are walking by and tells them this car has broken down and urgently needs oil, but he cannot leave his car alone. The same thing goes down where he askes for collateral and disappears with a student’s cell phone.
Johan says that these are only the incidents that have been reported by students or that was caught on camera. There could be a lot more cases that are just not reported.
“This is why it is so important to report crime, even if it is a petty crime. Report it, no matter how embarrassed you feel. It will be handled professionally. By reporting, spreading awareness and taking responsibility for ones safety is the only way we can eradicate crime.
