More people lose money to ‘mobile network’ scammers
• Pensioners with retirement benefits are an easy target
Sejelo Police Station commander, Superintendent Mogomotsi Matlapeng has cautioned Kanye residents to be alert so that they avoid losing their hard earned cash to scammers.
The advice comes after some residents suffered hefty financial losses.
On many occasions, the residents, received calls on their mobile phones from people claiming to be working for a local phone network provider asking for their personal details, assuring them that they won vouchers and khumo points. The police boss said after availing their details, the few residents noticed that transactions were ongoing in their personal accounts, and lost thousands to scammers. “These people target pensioners, they call their mobiles numbers to inform them that they won vouchers,” he said. According to Matlapeng, a 74-year-old woman from Podumo ward in Kanye lost money amounting to P3 000 to these scammers after three deductions were made same time from her account. “Some of these scammers are women, so we plead with the public to stop disclosing their mobile banking details to these people,” the police chief advised. In another complainant, Matlapeng revealed that a 39-year-old woman from Losabanyana ward received a call on September 5th, informing her that she won a voucher. Without wasting time, the victim gave her personal details to the caller and she was swindled money amounting to P8 000. He warned that in other cases, scammers provide fake instructions so that when followed, the victim’s money immediately transfers to the scammer’s banking account. “Beware of fraudulent gestures, protect yourself from further risks; retirees have assets like savings, pensions, life insurance policies or property for scammers to target,” Matlapeng said. He said scammers’ tactics have increased due to the rise of the digital economy. These days scammers reach their targeted victims through social media, phone text, as well as phone calls and email.