CRIMINALS posing as officials of South Africa Revenue Services (SARS), Eskom and the municipality have swindled many residents into paying large amounts of money to non-existent and untraceable accounts.
Residents have been inundated with emails and phone calls from convincing strangers who either set up appointments to install electricity-saving devices or attach a website link to claim an alleged tax refund amount.
These unscrupulous officials have marked Zululand as their territory for fraudulent activities and unethical business behaviour.
In a statement released by the local police this March, fraud cases have increased by more than 30% since last year.
According to Zululand Business Against Crime Executive Manager Dave Whittaker, community members continue to fall victim to promising offers made by the group of scammers.
Modus Operandi
‘Alarm bells should be going off when these so-called officials call to set up appointments at your home after hours. There were recent reports from East Coast Radio consumer journalist, Wendy Knowler, about an elderly couple in Hillcrest who was lured into purchasing electricity-saving goods. They were then compelled to take a loan from the alleged officials subsequently making these victims indebted to them,’ said Whittaker.
The well groomed and articulate agents, involved in dubious marketing and sales practice, seem to be targeting an older group of people aged from 40 upwards.
‘You must check their credentials, do not be deceived. If there was any project like this being initiated, the municipality would publicise it.’
‘I urge people to be on guard of any kind of fraudulent activities on websites such as OLX and Gumtree.
‘Also, the most common of these are the SARS tax return mails,’ he said.
The mail which reads: ‘Dear Taxpayer, after calculations of last year’s annual fiscal activities, we realise that you are eligible to receive a Tax refund of R9250.75. Please download the attached Tax refund form from REFUNDSARS.html and complete the process of your Tax refund. Note: the refund will take 48 hours to reflect in your account,’ is signed by the alleged SARS Commissioner Oupa G. Magashula.
The community is advised to be extremely cautious and alert.
