The Randburg police are warning the community to be vigilant of scammers pretending to be police officers.
The station has noted a few instances of victims claiming to have been scammed telephonically by suspects soliciting money from them. Suspects inform their victims that they have committed a serious crime that is under investigation, and they can make the matter disappear by paying a bribe.
“These scammers call victims at random and far afield, claiming to be officers from our station. They inform their victims that there is a warrant out for their arrest and they can make the warrant or case docket ‘go away’ by paying them a bribe via an EFT,” said police spokesperson Captain Makgowanyana Maja.
Some of the suspects of the crime claim the victim may be arrested for are highly serious, including rape and fraud.
“This causes victims to panic and pay the suspects bribe money, even if they know that they have not committed any crime. Whether you have committed a crime or not, police officers will never call you in such a manner, and try to solicit money from you in the form of a bribe,” said Maja.
He encouraged community members who have fallen victim to this type of scam to come forward and report it at the Randburg Police Station. He further encouraged the reporting of fraud and any other kind of corruption.
