Linden police warn the public on the new growing scam of false calls impersonating police officers to extort money from victims.
Read more: Honeydew Police Station’s standing in the first-quarter crime stats
Sergeant Takalani Sibiya, communication officer at Linden, explained that the scammers pose as a high-ranking police officer, often employing tactics that create a sense of urgency.
“They call claiming that the victim or their family are involved in a criminal investigation, and they may use official sounding language and even manipulate caller ID to appear legitimate. We urge the public to exercise caution.”
Also read: Police raid local school and uncover weapons and drugs
She shared the following safety tips.
• Verify caller ID: If the call is received claiming to be from the police and demanding money, hang up and contact local police station directly using a verified number to confirm the legitimacy of the call.
• Do not share personal information.
• Never provide personal or financial information over the phone to unknown callers.
• Report suspicious activity.
She urged the community to spread the word and share this information with friends and family to help and protect others from falling victim of these scams.
“If you believe you have been targeted or have received a suspicious call, report it to your local police station immediately. It is a serious offence to impersonate a police officer. We would never call an individual to make a payment of any kind. The only money payable to the police is for administration purposes and receipt will be issued after such payment was done at the police station. And no police officer is allowed to request money of any kind. You should always get an official proof of payment at the police station,” she added.
Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.
Related article: Linden police make 360 arrests, but still need more help to bring crime to heed
-
-
-
-
