WOMAN LOSES P170,000 TO SCAMMERS

GULLIBLE people continue to fall victim to scammers who swindle them of their hardearned cash despite police warning the public - through repeated public education and awareness campaigns - to be vigilant against such crimes.

One such victim is a 54-year-old woman from Mmaseetsele ward in Moshupa village who lost P170, 205 to scammers posing as agents of the mobile network company, Mascom.

According to Moshupa Police Station Commander, Superintendent David Ramoseki, the callers claimed the woman had won a P4 000 voucher from Mascom and therefore she needed to provide her details, including the bank account number for the prize money to be credited.

“After the woman gave them her bank account number expecting to receive the promised P4 000, the scammers immediately transferred P170,205 to 19 different cellphone numbers before she could report the matter to the police.

“I want to alert Batswana that there is nothing like you won money from a certain company. Let us be alert and aware of these criminals who rob people of their money,” noted Superintendent Ramoseki, saying they are still on the hunt for the suspects.

Meanwhile, a similar case of obtaining by false pretences was reported this week on Monday afternoon before Molepolole Police Station whereby a 45-year-old Lekgwapheng ward woman was swindled more than P70,000 by Facebook scammers.

She came across an advert post of scammers pretending they were selling maize and potatoes at Talana Farms.

After depositing the money into the scammers’ account, the woman realised that the 700 bags of maize she was expecting were not going to be delivered when she called the so-called farmers’ phone number and the phone was switched off, so she went to report the matter to the police.

Molepolole Police Station Commander, Superintendent Benedict Matlho, said they were still hunting down that suspect, too.