School cheque fraud uncovered

Two Eastern Cape schools have been hit by a cheque fraud syndicate that has been operating throughout the country.

Two schools in Mbizana and Flagstaff have been defrauded of an amount of R320,000 by the syndicate that allegedly cloned the schools’ chequebooks.

According to the Education department, the cheques were cashed at a First National Bank (FNB) in KwaZulu-Natal by the syndicate and an FNB Sandton branch where syndicate membes were arrested this week.

The spokesman for the department, Malibongwe Mtima, said the department uncovered the cheque fraud syndicate targeting schools in Alfred Nzo municipality this week.

“These criminal master minds are skillfully cloning school chequebooks. They have been found to be conducting cellphone sim-card swaps of principals and school governing body finance committee members.

“The consequence of these illegal cellphone sim card swaps is that criminals are able to validate cheques when banks undertake confirmation of these transactions. So far this scheme is only targeting First National Bank, ” said Mtima.

All school governing bodies finance committees are urged to be vigilant and continuously check their school bank balances to monitor “alien” transactions.

The department’s superintended-general, Themba Kojana said such criminality has the potential of disrupting learning in schools and affect the schools’ ability to provide nutritional programmes and other school operations.

Schools urged to check bank balances in case of further fraud cases