Polokwane police launch manhunt for Premier imposter
The modus operandi of the impersonator, according to Kenny Mathivha, Spokesperson of the Premier, is to call the potential victim and request for urgent cash which should be deposited into Shoprite or any quick cash shop.
POLOKWANE – Police in Limpopo say they are continuously receiving complaints and reports from communities who are being bothered by ‘unscrupulous individuals’ soliciting cash from them for various promises.
This, according to police spokesperson, Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, stems from recent trends reported at the Polokwane, Mankweng and Botlokwa police stations.
“Police have launched a manhunt for an unknown person who is calling himself the Premier of Limpopo. Since July 2018, up to now, this person is calling different high profile people in Limpopo and in other provinces, requesting money and giving them account numbers where the money should be deposited into,” Ngoepe explained.
Read more: Premier’s office warns of scammer pretending to be Chupu Mathabatha
He added that Government Departments don’t have procedures of demanding money in exchange of any service to be rendered.
Meanwhile, Ngoepe says this is not the only scam taking place in and around Polokwane with the second scam involving unknown people who are calling various motorists who were involved in motor vehicle accidents, where alcohol tests were obtained, and identifying themselves as Captain Mashiane or Captain Steyn from Mankweng and Botlokwa Police Stations respectively.
“They tell their victims that the results of their blood tests are back and they are found to be above the alcohol limit which will lead them to jail terms for driving under the influence of alcohol. They then demand the motorist to pay an exorbitant amount of cash for the cases to be destroyed,” he said.
Ngoepe added that anyone who is involved in these cases should know that the investigating officers responsible for their cases will communicate with them accordingly and will not demand any remuneration.
“Residents are advised and encouraged to be on alert about these scams without complying to their illegal demands. Do not fall prey to these faceless individuals and when you receive such calls, report them to your nearest police station; call the crime stop number 0860010111 or the crime line SMS 3221,’ he concluded.
