Suspects appear in court for fraud

Six charged with owning skimming devices, card cloning

SIX bank card cloning suspects arrested for allegedly being in possession of card skimming equipment appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court yesterday facing charges of fraud.

Police pounced on the six – three men and three women – at a rented house at Ngangelizwe Township in Mthatha on Sunday following a tip-off.

Police spokesman LieutenantColonel Mzukisi Fatyela said when the police searched the house they found two laptops, two card skimming or cloning devices, a card reader, 70 bank debit cards and 80 CDS believed to contain bank information.

The Daily Dispatch learnt the three women were girlfriends of the three men, but this could not be confirmed by police.

The six accused are Khaya Myeki, Sibuyile Nana, Noluthando Lubango, Siziphiwe Dayi, Phindiwe Butshingi and Siyamthanda Ntanga.

The case was postponed for a formal bail hearing and the accused were remanded in custody.

Ntanga, 23, is one of four suspects arrested for similar offences in Butterworth in January.

Fatyela said some of the suspects who appeared in court yesterday were believed to be students at Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha.

“There is a high rate of card cloning and it is alarming. Last week we arrested people driving a BMW and found a skimming device and about 20 bank and clothing (account) cards.

“Banks must also strengthen their security measures,” Fatyela said.

Meanwhile 22-year-old Nosamnkelo Mganu of Centuli village near Mthatha warned members of the public to be aware of fraudsters operating on the streets of Mthatha and avoid being conned.

Mganu nearly lost R500 when she was conned into participating in an illegal gambling game in Madeira Street in Mthatha on Saturday.

She said the con artists lured their victims into a gambling game where a small ball is covered by one of three cold-drink tops and the player had to guess under which top the ball was.

“A woman – who was apparently used as a bait – played and won R300. Then I was convinced to gamble with my R500, but I mysteriously lost the game,” Mganu said.

She then screamed and a passerby called the police.

The police’s speedy response resulted in the arrest of four suspects, including two women, and recovery of some of the cash.

“Police recovered the cash. They gave it back to us, two young men and myself.

“I am very thankful for the swift action of the police,” she said — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za