There has been an increase in reports of fraud scams and online-related crimes in the Kirstenhof police precinct, say police.
Criminals are calling or sending emails or messages that look like they come from trusted sources such as banks and legitimate companies, a practice known as phishing, to obtain victims’ personal information, says Kirstenhof police spokeswoman Sergeant Deirdre Solomon.
“In some of the cases, reported, victims are sharing information over the phone before confirming if the caller is from a verified organisation. Scammers are good at convincing the caller that they are from a trusted company and often have some of the caller’s information. They only require a few more details before they can complete the fraudulent transaction,” said Sergeant Solomon.
If you suspect you are being scammed, Sergeant Solomon suggests ending all correspondence and immediately contacting the bank or company.
Sensitive information, such as PIN codes and one-time passwords, should never be shared, and do not confirm or update your details over the phone, she said.
Scams related to online purchases, particularly those involving sites such as Facebook marketplace, were also on the rise, said Sergeant Solomon.
“Buyers making payment to sellers before seeing the product are often disappointed when it is time for delivery. Either all the seller’s information is false or they receive no product. By the time the buyer realises what has happened, the transaction has gone through and the buyer loses their money. Scams can cost people a lot of money and cause a great deal of distress, so protect yourself against scams and be vigilant at all times.”
• Four wheels were stolen off a Toyota Corolla in Newton Drive in the early hours of Saturday morning July 22.
“The resident woke this morning to find the car on bricks and all four wheels stolen. At this stage it appears the suspect/s may have gained access to the property by jumping over the wall. We encourage residents to ensure that your perimeter is tightly secured at all times,” said Bergvliet Kreupelbosch Meadowridge Neighbourhood Watch on their Facebook page.
Diep River police Vispol commander Captain Marius Voges said: “We have three cases, two in Meadowridge including the incident in Newton Road and one in Southfield, that have been reported of wheels stolen off of vehicles in the past couple of weeks. There is no official link between them, but we believe it may be a syndicate. No arrests have been made, but it is being investigated.”
