Fraud alert: One woman’s close encounter
"He then asked if I was aware debit orders were going off on my account on a regular basis and when last had I checked my bank statement."
It’s that time of year again where fraudsters are hard at work to scam you any way they can and they have become so good at their game that their unsuspecting victims can find themselves easily robbed at the touch of a button.
Here’s her story:
Today I was nearly a victim of one such scam that sounded so legit to begin with. I was called by a well spoken African man who said he was calling from Absa Fraud department.
I only answered the call because it said Absa Fraud on the call identity but I did notice a normal cell number showing as 068 865 8145 which I found unusual as Absa Fraud never reflects a normal cell number.
I answered the call anyway and the fraudster first asked “Am I speaking to Mrs….?” and gave my first name instead of my surname.
I did not correct him and he then gave me his first name saying he was phoning from Absa Fraud and was I aware a transaction was attempted on my bank account to defraud me of of R3000.
I said no and he asked if I have ever had dealings with a company I only heard him say the first part as Africa and missed the second part of the name of the company.
I replied no and he then asked if I was aware debit orders were going off on my account on a regular basis and when last had I checked my bank statement.
I again replied I was not aware of any erroneous transactions taking place and that I had not looked at my bank statement lately.
He asked when I had last done a transaction on my account and If I had been contacted by this company at all or had any dealings with them. I replied no to these questions.
He then told me ‘don’t panic – these transactions haven’t actually gone through my bank account yet’ – they are about to block it at Absa Fraud.
Then he proceeded to give me his full name as Lesley Kgopolo, a reference number and an Absa staff number.
After providing me with his details and reference numbers he asked me to log into my bank account and immediately I said no.
I said I will go to my bank instead and see them in person.
He asked me again if I am going to log into my bank account and I said firmly ‘no, I’m not going to log in, I will go to my bank in person’, to which he rung off in haste.
I then went straight to my bank and reported the matter.
I spoke to their fraud department who applauded me for not having given the fraudster any of my personal details and declining to log into my bank account which protected me from being robbed.
They told me that the fraudsters have become so clever at their game that their number will reflect on my cell phone as a caller from Absa Fraud, yet it’s not Absa Fraud calling at all.
Be watchful, be vigilant, and never give any personal details out or agree to log in to your bank account.
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