Recently, I almost fell victim to what appears to be a new scam in shopping centres in Randfontein.
I was at a shop in a local shopping centre when a woman started a conversation with me in one of the aisles. When I got into the queue to pay, she approached me again and said that she could get me a discount.
Although I declined, she insisted I go with her to meet her friend who allegedly works for this shop.
Her friend took my shopping basket and said I should wait outside the shop while she speaks to the manager because she can swipe her staff card, earning points and giving me a huge discount. I wasn’t interested but she said that she would be back shortly with my shopping basket.
When she returned, she said that her manager said I can get a discount. I was confused about what was going on and asked if I could have my basket back to pay at the till and leave.
She then asked me to give her my bank card and banking PIN so that she could swipe them for me. When I refused, she said I could go pay myself, but must leave my handbag with them.
I left immediately, because I knew something wasn’t right, but I could’ve easily given her what she wanted and lost everything in my bank account or my handbag, because the whole situation was very intimidating.
Centre management told me the woman is in fact not a staff member at that particular shop.
I want to warn local shoppers to be vigilant when other shoppers approach you or offer any help, because they might be trying to scam you out of your banking details or your handbag.
