Police issue fraud alert

JOZINI police urge the public to be vigilant in light of recent cases of fraud and theft under false pretenses.

Many people in the uMkhanyakude cluster, particularly the Jozini area, have already been affected.

Fraudsters contact the victim and pose as cellphone service providers, informing the victim of an alleged sim swap.

Panicking and trusting that the caller is indeed, from a cellphone service provider, the victim agrees to give the caller their personal information.

With this information in hand, the fraudster withdraws funds from the victim’s bank account.

In the cases of theft by false pretenses, cars are advertised and because the prices of the vehicles are so low, victims will send a deposit to the ‘seller’s’ bank account to secure the deal.

These adverts are in fact, scams and the ‘seller’ makes off with the victims’ money.

In the event of being caught out by such scams, victims must report the crime to their nearest police station.