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Be extremely cautious, because there are syndicates preying on car sellers who advertise on the website, Autotrader. Senior Superintendent Jakes van Zyl said there were about 100 reported cases where motorists who had advertised on www.autotrader.co.za had been conn... read more Hijackers 'trick victims with number plates' E-mail cautions on new attack strategy If your number plates are being flashed to you from another car, resist the urge to stop - they might be hijackers. According to an e-mail doing the rounds, hijackers are removing motorists' number plates in an attempt to get them out of their car... read more Bogus skipper licences warning The SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) has issued a warning to the public about people posing as accredited agents offering skipper licences. Several incidents involving fraudulent skipper licences have come to light at Hartbeespoort Dam, the Vaal Dam and in the Free State. Samsa and the p... read more Foreigners warned on accommodation fraud Foreigners booking accommodation for the World Cup have been cautioned against using open websites in South Africa, following a marked increase in reports of accommodation advance-fee fraud. Southern African Fraud Prevention Service executive director Pat Cunningham said fraudsters were advertis... read more Novel solutions sought as identity theft skyrockets Up to 6 million cases of fraud a month committed via stolen salary slips and false documents IDENTITY theft has increased phenomenally in South Africa, reaching such a level that a major retailer is thinking about installing photo-recognition or fingerprint scanners in its stores. Joha... read more Be very careful about what you're replying 'yes' to For years I've been fielding complaints from readers about mysterious "data content" charges on their cellphone bills. They swear they know nothing about the so-called content - games, wallpapers, ringtones and the like - and that they never agreed to any such subscription. Most don't even know ... read more Always check your bank statements for unauthorised debits This is one of the most alarming marketing SMS stories I've ever come across. Capetonian Heather Cooke, a Vodacom pre-paid customer, received the following SMS in late November: "Congrat's, Vodacom user y've won R30 Vodacom airtime. Reply YES to confirm & receive your Bonus R30 voucher @ R7.50, T&C'... read more MXit: youngsters urged to use common sense Call for parents to log on and chat with kids - or use blocking feature MXit authorities have urged youngsters to apply common sense to ensure that they stay free from any "predators" who ask for their personal details. A concerned parents group is now calling on more parents to log on... read more Private car sale leaves woman out of pocket Seller holds on to vehicle, using cash to settle debts CONSUMERS are warned to be careful when buying goods from private sellers after a 56-year-old woman had problems claiming back a R24 000 downpayment on a car. Baratang Rakgole is seething after she paid for a car the owner has now ... read more Find others who've been ripped off and lay charge with cops Reconciliation. My dictionary has this to say about the word we have to thank for today's public holiday: "A new and friendly relationship with someone you argued with or fought with." Our Reconciliation Day has its origins in blood, sweat and spears on opposite sides of the political and cultur... read more Stay calm and co-operate, cops warn Shiny baubles, Santas everywhere, Christmas music and packed-out malls are all part of the festive shopping experience - but there is also an increased chance of armed robberies and violent attacks. This means Joburgers in particular need to learn how to survive a mall robbery. Shopper Geral... read more Mall-robbery survival guide Police have given these tips for returning unscathed from a mall: •If you hear screams in a mall, suspect that a robbery is under way. • Stay calm. Leave through an emergency exit as soon as it is safe to do so. • Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. • Avoid displ... read more Warning on illegal betting syndicates FIFA has warned that illegal betting syndicates will descend on South Africa en masse in the run-up to the World Cup and have warned people not to get involved with them. The multibillion-dollar industry is said to be controlled by organised criminals who engage in loan sharking and use intimida... read more Misleading seals of approval A few months ago my parents bought timeshare, or to be more precise, "holiday points". It's an industry which hasn't exactly covered itself in glory, especially when it comes to its marketing practices, but the concept does work for some, and naturally I hope it does for them. But someone wh... read more Wendy wades in The storyline was very familiar. Consumer owed refund by company; company delaying paying refund; consumer asks me to help. Only this one had an interesting twist - in an attempt to "prove" to the former customer that the refund had indeed been made, a fake SMS payment confirmation was sent to h... read more Warning: the fraudsters are Christmas shopping, too This is an incredibly dangerous time to be a consumer, and not only because the banks' and retailers' adverts are urging us to ignore the sage advice of the likes of the Savings Institute, the National Credit Regulator and the Credit Information Ombud and spend, spend, spend this festive season. ... read more Crooks target car dealerships Man finds vehicle stolen after it went for service Thieves have found a soft target - car dealerships. This emerged after a man who had booked his vehicle in for a service at Rivonia Toyota returned to find that it had been stolen. Ralph Manhile dropped off his 4x4 at Rivonia Toyota fo... read more Woman tricks girls and steals their cellphones Pupils lured by bogus photo shoot story A female thief used the name of a teacher, the promise of new clothes and a photo shoot to lure girls away from their school before robbing them of their cellphones. Police spokeswoman Captain Colette Weilbach said the woman approached four Lynn-... read more 'Discarded gadget boxes invite thugs' Avoid leaving packaging from valuable electronic equipment in municipal rubbish bins as it alerts criminals to the contents found inside your house, the police have warned. Brooklyn police spokeswoman Captain Colette Weilbach said the packaging of plasma TVs, laptops or any other kind of valuabl... read more Guard yourself against hijackers Knowledge is the first line of defence against being a victim With an average of about 39 vehicles hijacked per day, keeping abreast of evolving modus operandi is key to avoiding becoming a victim. So says Auto & General director Angelo Haggiyannes, who adds that knowledge is the first... read more Ignore that small print at your peril Don't be taken for a ride A few years ago when I applied to increase my home loan in order to do alterations, I had to go to the plush offices of the bank's attorneys in order to sign the paperwork. I was ushered into a room and presented with a large pile of documents. "Just sign here... read more Game over for cellphone scratchcard culprits There's been a rather satisfying conclusion to the story of the scratchcard competitions, which were really just a means of hooking people up to a cellphone content subscription service. To recap briefly: In July, Waspa - the Wireless Applications Service Providers Association, which regulates t... read more Tips on crime prevention Safety at home - preventing housebreaking and theft: • Make provision for good outside lighting and use lighting to your advantage. Lights on inside while it's dark outside puts you at a disadvantage. Lights on outside when it's dark inside will allow you to observe without being seen. • Be ... read more A paper trail of unscrupulous trading In a country where rogue tow truck drivers prey on accident victims in unbelievably underhanded but not illegal ways, where unscrupulous traders routinely sell expired food products and where a depressing number of drivers have bought their licences, it's comforting to know that consumers do enjoy r... read more Major legal coup for consumers in debt Consumers who are paying off debts scored a major legal victory a couple of weeks ago, in that the banks and retailers they owe money to aren't free to keep adding massive debt collecting costs and interest to the original debt. But the debtors are no doubt in the dark about this, and I'm guessi... read more Don't let thugs get their hands on your bag Busby wallet - R500. Garmin - R2 000. Nokia cellphone - R6 500. Cost of replacing bank cards, ID and driver's licence - R657. Handbag - R200. Cash - R600. Total cost - R10 357. This is how much it cost me when my handbag was stolen while I was out to lunch at Capellos in Newtown recently. I ... read more Fishy story: for years hake has been posing as haddock Practice dates to '60s and has SABS nod Some retail scams have become so time honoured that they have acquired a respectability of their own. Those aren't my words - I took them directly from an e-mail I received recently from Capetonian Ernie Gay. He was talking about the South Africa... read more Credit rating cons are on the rise Here are some ways you can help yourself In my line of work you come across all sorts of rip-off artists. I have a particular repulsion for those who prey on the vulnerable; people who've just had a car accident, lost a loved one, or are looking for a secure investment, or seeking work. ... read more Try to avoid dangerous intersections Police ask for help to identify thieves There are two intersections in Germiston that you don't want to stop at during the early morning or late afternoon. Both have all the elements for a perfect smash-and-grab: robots, plenty of rocks lying on the side of the road and thick bushes ne... read more New national regulator to rein in rip-offs HAVE you heard of the NRCS? That's the National Regulator of Compulsory Standards. It was set up as an independent agency last September after splitting from the SA Bureau of Standards. In keeping with best international practice, the standards are no longer policed by the same folk who drew... read more Dogs are your best defence against robbers Research shows most attacks based on inside information Around 77 percent of the house robberies in Gauteng are based on inside information from gardeners, domestic workers and visitors. This is the latest in crime intelligence research done by Dr Rudolph Zinn, senior lecturer in the S... read more We'll take your silence as a 'yes, thank you!' Imagine if companies routinely sent us unsolicited offers to buy things, and if we didn't get back to them to say "no, thanks", they assumed we wanted them, and went ahead and billed us for them. Well, this used to be the case not so long ago. I remember one large retail company sending its acco... read more Beware of predatory timeshare sales agents Domestic workers easy targets for commission-hungry holiday touts Only someone with an extraordinary lack of morals could convince a domestic worker to commit herself to a timeshare deal on the basis that it's a sound financial investment for them. Domestic workers are the perfect ta... read more Sars warns of phishing scam The SA Revenue Service (Sars) has warned taxpayers about e-mails asking for personal information after a phishing scam now doing the rounds was brought to its attention. According to Sars, many South Africans have received an e-mail from a forged Sars e-mail address, return@sars.co.za, saying the... read more Right-of-way rule must be similar at all traffic circles A fortnight ago, we touched on traffic circles and who has the right of way approaching one of these traffic-calming measures. Well, the debate rages on, and after spending the past week monitoring circles, it was astounding to see how many motorists are uncertain or hesitate. This week's co... read more e-mail aware This morning I received an e-mail, supposedly from Microsoft, and as I was reading it warning bells began to ring. The e-mail gives a warning of a virus (conflicker virus) affecting Windows. Meantime what they are trying to get you to do (unbeknown to the gullible) is to actually download the ... read more Know your rights at traffic circle Are you looking for a stimulating debate about traffic? Next time you are at a dinner party or out with friends, throw out this question: "Who has right of way at a traffic circle?" Two things might happen; either your dinner party lands up in disaster or your friends will leave the evening unde... read more Technology to give fraudsters the jitters Absa has warned its clients to be vigilant about card skimming to avoid being left out of pocket. "The current economic conditions have hit our customers quite hard. "Therefore it makes perfect sense that our customers heighten their vigilance against any form of fraud which seeks to rob the... read more Widow takes on property company Thousands of pensioners face financial ruin A 69-year-old widow has brought down a multimillion-rand prop-erty investment company in a brave fight to preserve "almost all the money she ever had in the world". Elma Taylor, from Franskraal in the Overberg, successfully applied for the pr... read more Second fake ticket shambles looms Hers's looking at you, mr president There's bad news for Bulls fans today. They will have to have their tickets checked before they get into Loftus Versfeld, and they might be prevented from watching the Super 14 final if their tickets are found to be counterfeit. All 50 000 tickets ha... read more Clearance certificate scam unearthed A union shop steward screamed at the top of her voice as Joburg metro cops, city officials and a host of media arrived to arrest an allegedly corrupt employee - who, it turned out, was on sick leave. The employee was one of several people the council alleges are involved in fraudulent clearance ... read more Phishing scam on Facebook ONE of the internet's most popular social networking websites, Facebook, has been hit by scammers who are trying to lure users to a number of fake websites, which ask for their password and log-in details. Once those details have been obtained, the fraudsters can access people's personal Faceboo... read more Woman tells of falling victim to cellphone fraud Criminals persuade shop assistants to do illegal SIM swops to access accounts The police and their crime intelligence arm are investigating a new scam where criminals convince cellphone shop assistants to do illegal sim swops so that they can steal an unsuspecting customer's personal detai... read more How to safeguard yourself Absa says customers of all banks are urged to: • Keep your access information (account number, user number, and all PINs and passwords) secure. • Ignore phishing e-mails (e-mails purportedly sent by your bank requesting you to confirm or update your log-in details). • Ensure you are l... read more Remember to return defective goods within six months of purchase I GET a lot of complaints about new shoes that have fallen apart in some way, but this one's somewhat extraordinary. Eve Fritz bought two pairs of the British-made brand Hotter lace-up shoes at an end-of-winter sale at Durasole in Wynberg last year at R450 a pair. She put one pair away in he... read more Public Notice - Limpopo Provincial Treasury The Limpopo Department of Agriculture has received reports of fraudulent activities by an unknown syndicate. The activities are in connection with fraudulent orders issued in the name of the Department to prospective service providers and supplier to render services or deliver goods. Please be a... read more Beware the 'pie in the sky' offer Bona fide agents who have genuine relationships with employers in foreign countries are paid by the companies for placements. I've been approached by six people who heard via the grapevine that Cape Town-based recruiter Lizette Lingard, who calls her business Work Corner, was placing South Afric... read more We're still waiting for some proper protection If only a president - any president - would sign this law I haven't written about the Consumer Protection Bill for some time, as exciting as its provisions are. That's not sarcasm - its provisions really do shift the balance of power from companies to consumers in a practical, satisfyi... read more Don't fall into the tow-truck trap I had an incredible response to Consumer Watch of two weeks ago, which told the story of Abel Noholoza of Newlands, Johannesburg, who had just pulled out of his property when another driver crashed into his 10-year-old Citi Golf. He'd planned to push his damaged car back into his yard, but was t... read more Tow-truck drivers are taking you for a ride (Part 1) There must be some compassionate, scrupulously ethical tow-truck operators out there, and I really would like to hear about them. Sadly, the only consumer interactions with this industry that I ever get to hear about are of the worst kind. The latest one to come my way is still playing out, ... read more Tow-truck drivers are taking you for a ride (Part 2) As I sat down to write this column, I e-mailed Abel and asked him where he'd found the money to pay the massive towing fee and all those extra taxi fares. "I went to Old Mutual and cancelled my investment policy," he told me. He had paid into it every month for the past four years and it w... read more 'Worst nightmare' happens rarely IT IS every parent's worst nightmare: gun-wielding hijackers speeding off with their children still strapped inside their car seats, but experts reveal that this scenario rarely happens in South Africa. "From the hijackers' point of view, they don't want any children in the car because it attrac... read more Pupils tricked in fly-by-night school scam Authorities want police to shut them down Fly-by-night schools continue to boom in Joburg despite the Gauteng Department of Education's promise to clamp down on them. The problem is so rampant that the department is considering getting the police to shut down illegal schools and arrest... read more Burglary Prevention Tips • ENSURE that all important documents are photocopied, authenticated by a commissioner of oaths and securely locked away. If you don't have a fireproof home safe, give these copies to your bank for safekeeping. • Ensure that perimeter doors are fitted with adequate locks. The front door should... read more Reduce the risk of rape and sexual offences Take precautions: • If possible, avoid walking alone. Your best defence is having other people nearby. • If you walk alone, plan your route carefully. Take note of stores or restaurants that are open should you need to ask for help. • Stay in well-lit areas as much as possible. • ... read more Now here's something to chew on … Wildlife Ranching South Africa - the official mouthpiece of this country's game farmers - responded to last week's column about the Hussar Grill in Rondebosch, Cape Town, passing off "ordinary" spare ribs as the more exotic "warthog ribs", by saying that it was concerned about this "trend". Beca... read more Thieves now pose as tow truckers and repossession agents Cars stolen from driveways in broad daylight Rogue elements in the tow-truck industry have been stealing cars across the country by hooking them up in front of homes and driving off, while others have posed as repossession agents and then stolen the cars from driveways. Tow-truck sourc... read more Don't fall for cheap flight tickets Hundreds of South Africans have been duped in a massive air-travel scam promising cheap flights, both locally and internationally. The Saturday Star was alerted to the scam by victims who lost thousands of rands after flights they bought via an e-mail flight service never materialised. Hundr... read more Beware the fake hair straightener A ghd at half-price is not likely to be genuine For those women who desire dead straight, sleek hair at all costs, a hair straightener is a must-have item in their cosmetic arsenal. Because they are relatively expensive, particularly the popular UK brand ghd, the Chinese - who else? - ... read more Avoid being conned by fly-by-night colleges Those intending to study next year should be careful where they sign up. Umalusi, the council for quality assurance in education and training, has urged pupils to research institutions and the qualifications offered, as many people get conned by so-called colleges offering bogus qualifications. ... read more Beware of credit card, bank account scams Be particularly cautious when using your bank cards this festive season, and beware of scam e-mails doing the rounds asking you to upgrade or confirm your bank account information. That's the warning from police, banks and the South African Fraud Prevention Services (SAFPS) as many South African... read more Tips to stop smash and grabs People who pounce on unsuspecting drivers have turned some pleasant rides into nightmare driving, says the SA Police Service. Whether your car is moving or stationary, bear the following in mind: • Lock all your doors and close all the windows. Thieves steal handbags and other valuables by open... read more 'Phishy' e-mail victim gets R200 000 refund (Part 1) If fraud is due to bank's failure, the client will be reimbursed As I've been saying a lot lately, in these days of rampant bank fraud, you can't afford not to have your bank send you an SMS every time there's activity on your bank account. All the banks and banking organisations are a... read more 'Phishy' e-mail victim gets R200 000 refund The ombud's tips: • Never confirm or disclose any personal details via e-mail or telephonically; • Respond immediately to any alerts or notifications received from your bank regarding activity on your Internet banking profile. (Key your bank’s call centre number into your cellphone); ... read more Gauteng hit the worst by major increase in credit card fraud Credit card fraud has more than doubled in the past year, with more than half of the R420-million annual loss to the industry occurring in Gauteng. These were the alarming figures released yesterday by the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) at the launch of its National Card F... read more Motorist denies signing form that forced him to sell crashed car to towing company A Joburg man had to sell his crashed car to a towing company to pay a towing bill which he has denied authorising. But the police said he signed the towing papers, so it was legal. Thando Stuurman crashed his 14-year-old Uno Fire in Louis Botha Avenue on a Saturday night at the beginning of ... read more 'Tis not the season for folly ATM fraud is on the rise, and as the fraudsters go into Christmas shopping overdrive, don't think it can't happen to you … ATM fraud is one of South Africa's great levellers. Victims are young and old, black and white, rich and poor, and many of them don't even remember being "interfered w... read more Beware - Phishing attacks If you ever receive an e-mail like this, or, in fact any correspondence asking you to upgrade, update etc any personal information, be alert. I received an e-mail today marked from ABSA, with a heading: Upgrade To Our New Secured Server. Here's how it read: __________________________________... read more 'Guaranteed cheque' not worth the paper She was supposed to be on her way to America to visit her boyfriend, but now Yolande Lehmkuhl (24) is devastated. She was recently duped out of R7 000 after advertising her Nikon D40 digital camera on an electronic classifieds database. Lehmkuhl says she placed an advert on Junk Mail on Sept... read more Keep in touch with security company Safety Tips With the December holiday just weeks away, police statistics predict a 20% rise in criminal activity - a problem compounded by a sharp increase in false alarms. To avoid dispatching response officers unnecessarily, Chubb Security has the following tips to help customers avoi... read more Beware of criminals posing as housebuyers Boksburg homesellers are warned to be cautious during open house days. The warning comes as Boksburg police are investigating a reported case of theft from a property during an open day last week. Benoni cluster spokesperson Constable Shirley Soke said police believe members of the gang - pr... read more Please be aware - Crooks on the move I have just received a call on my cellphone from a man purporting to be from the Receiver of Revenue. This, he said, was in regards to payment of VAT and updating their records. I then asked for his telephone number and then proceeded to tell him I was phoning the Receiver and then the police. ... read more What to do Rocks placed on highways at night are one of the ploys criminals are using to force motorists to stop on the roadside, effectively making them soft targets. When a car hits a rock at high speed there is generally damage of some kind, ranging from a burst tyre to severe rim damage on multiple whe... read more Gauteng is card crime hub GAUTENG is the credit card cloning crime capital of the country, accounting for a 49% slice of the credit card fraud pie countrywide. The SA Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) said in the past four months credit card crime incidents overall had increased by 8%. In the same period, the amou... read more Pensioners get ripped off SOCIAL grants officials in North West have received 500 complaints within a week about rip-off artists who scam the elderly and other pensioners at pay-points. The SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) in the North West region said last week shop-owners forced beneficiaries to spend cash in their sto... read more Tips to avoid card fraud • Never accept assistance from any person at an ATM unless they are bank officials. • Inspect an ATM for springs or anything suspicious around the slot before inserting your card. • Accompany your waiter to the pay point or insist on a pay device being brought to your table. • Protec... read more Commercial vehicles under attack as hijack season starts The festive season has started early for hijackers and commercial vehicles seem to be at the top of their wish lists this year. This is according to Hannelie Snow, spokesperson for MiX Telematics Africa, formerly known as Matrix Vehicle Tracking. The company had already noted an "alarming in... read more Vigilance urged as bank-card fraud increases Credit and debit card holders are urged to keep a closer eye on their cards as the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) has recorded a 57% increase in credit and debit card fraud in the first quarter of this year alone. And according to head of commercial crime at Sabric, Susan... read more Cops issue stern warning about get-rich-quick scams White-collar crooks change their modus operandi, but continue to rake in money as victims fall prey There are currently more than 30 suspected pyramid operations under investigation in Joburg, as people buy into the alleged get-rich-quick schemes. "People don't seem to realise that if ... read more Some schemes the public bought into Pyramid schemes have robbed hundreds or thousands of people of their investments. Here are some of the best-known schemes. Krion Marietjie Prinsloo, Vanderbijlpark owner of Krion Financial Services, and her five co-directors are alleged to have misled investors by pretending to operate a sch... read more Beware skimmer scammers CARDS” Danger lurks at ATMSs and restaurants A TOTAL of 45 cases of bank card cloning have been reported in Rustenburg, North West this past weekend alone. The SAPS are urging the public to be more vigilant than ever at ATMs and to never let their credit cards out of their sight. In Rusten... read more Lay off that laser, layperson Only dermatologists and plastic surgeons can blitz Some years ago I wrote a series of reports about a Durban beauty therapist with dubious qualifications and an uncanny ability to extract thousands of rands from women with the promise that she'd get rid of their pigmentation with her speci... read more Foundation warns of Madiba online scam Big prize offered if 'winners' pay an administrative fee of R6 500 The Nelson Mandela Foundation has warned against a scam that fleeces members of the public of their monies using Nelson Mandela's name. The fraudsters' modus operandi includes contacting people using an online promotion... read more Watch out for city water-testing scam Joburg Water (JW) has issued a warning to residents not to fall for a new scam which has been perpetuated around the city recently. This comes after the utility received several calls from concerned residents, mainly from Glenvista, in the south of Joburg, complaining that they have received cal... read more 10 Crucial tips - just 5 Minutes of your time . . . . . . Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or a loved one's life. *I received this e-mail from a business associate and it probably originated in another part of the world. However, I do think crime is crime no matter where or when it happens it helps to be alert. webma... read more Beware the friendly charmer behind you at the ATM He was armed with a smart suit, a genteel manner, good eyesight and a tiny scanner hidden in his hand. She was standing at an unfamiliar ATM in an unfamiliar shopping centre, irritated by the fact that although she was following the instructions on the screen, including keying in her PIN, the ma... read more URGENT WARNING - JHB Roads - And other areas - New intimidation methods Hi Ladies / Gents This did happen to a lady on Friday 01/08/08 at night. She was extremely lucky, she is still in a lot of shock and can't stop crying, as she said - quote. " I was going to die tonight". The only thing that saved her was that she rode into oncoming traffic. Please take c... read more Tips to prevent hijacking • Don't drive with your car window more than 5cm open. • Always put your bag under the passenger seat or in the boot - and never reach for it if you've been ordered out of your car. The hijacker might assume you're grabbing a firearm and shoot you. • Avoid going to petrol stations after 9... read more Don't fall victim to new hijack method If you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of your back window while you are driving, resist the temptation to get out of the car to remove it because you could fall victim to a hijacking. This is according to an e-mail that is warning motorists about the "new scheme that is now being us... read more Ceiling can be used to escape during robbery It is not uncommon to hear of incidents where criminals lock their victims in a room while they ransack their house. But a major problem that arises in that situation is that you - as a security-conscious person - have had burglar bars installed over the windows which are now preventing you from... read more Motorists warned BROOKLYN police have warned motorists in Hatfield and Garsfontein to be on the lookout for the “red-light robbers” who were active in the evenings east of Pretoria. Captain Colette Weilbach said robbers target motorists who leave valuables on the seat. They hide by lying low and covering thems... read more Heed warning as ATM attacks soar in Gauteng Two hundred and fifty ATM bombings have been reported during the first half of this year - and the majority of the attacks are taking place in Gauteng. According to the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC), there have already been 250 ATM bombings reported this year - this is u... read more Where to report 419/Commercial Scams 419 Scams 419 scams (scams perpetuated over the internet) are investigated by the Commercial Crimes unit of the SAPS. They are then sorted into two groups: Potential 419 Scams - Possible valid 419 Scams Actual 419 Scams - Scams that are in progress Keep this e-mail address on fil... read more Beware of 'unsolicited' goods SA Consumer Protection Bill cannot be implemented fast enough Every week I receive e-mails which ram home the fact that the Consumer Protection Bill can't be passed into law quickly enough. They provide perfect case studies for many of the bill's provisions. Section 21, for example... read more Fraud rife in Free State SWINDLERS: Businesses conned out of millions CON artists are making millions in the Eastern Free State by exploiting the province’s desperate economic situation, police warned yesterday. Police spokesman Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said individuals, schools and businesses have lost “large amount... read more How to Stay safe when dealing with Street vendors • Keep your car doors locked at all times. • Keep windows closed at intersections . • Make sure all your possessions are stored out of sight, especially your sunglasses, cellphone, handbag and purse. • If you are not interested in what the traders have to offer, politely gesture your r... read more Job offer turns out to be too good to be true Anne-Marie Pienaar thought she was offered the chance of a lifetime: a well-paid job as an office receptionist at Bridgestone in London. The Cape Town resident was even inches away from quitting her job and already saving up money to get her passport renewed. But at the last moment she chang... read more Swiping in more ways than one Be careful when paying by debit card, it could be costing a lot more Do you examine the amount printed on your credit or debit card slip before you put your signature on it? I'm quite sure that many of us don't, not every time, anyway. This is not a wise oversight, because the amou... read more Pin numbers no obstacle for debit card thieves A debit card transaction requires a pin number for the request to be authorised. With this in mind, you may think that - bar a criminal holding a gun to your head demanding the pin - the chances of someone accessing your account are slim. But debit card holders are warned not to let their cards ... read more Telkom warns on bandwidth scam Telkom has advised its Internet customers to be on high alert following a bandwidth theft scam that has come to the company's attention. Steven White, executive for the Converged Business Services Group, has warned: "This scam is conducted through hoax e-mails requesting Internet customers to co... read more Just what a domestic worker needs … timeshare A new bill, which should be passed into law this year, is designed to protect consumers from 'unconscionable conduct' Whenever I'm faced with two versions of what happened between a salesperson and a consumer, face to face, before a deal was signed, I indulge in a little fantasy. I ima... read more Conmen now use car mags to dupe victims Police have warned the public against a fraud syndicate that is targeting unsuspecting victims by advertising in publications. The call follows two separate incidents in Silverton, Pretoria, that have occurred during the past three weeks. Two weeks ago Nthabiseng* (22) placed her black Mini ... read more Dog poisonings on the increase again DOG poisonings – a trend often associated with violent crime – are on the increase again and the number of incidents reported to the South African Police Service has raised red flags with security companies. This has prompted Chubb Security’s armed response division to issue a general warning to ... read more Beware the possible electricity scam Beware of criminals who may take advantage of the country's power crisis. It is vital to always check the identity of a person who knocks at your door. Do not let them in unless they can provide you with positive identification. This is the warning circulating via e-mail stating that a syndi... read more Beware of bogus uniforms A leading insurance company has urged people to be aware of criminals gaining entry to their houses and robbing them after impersonating service providers. 1st for Women Insurance brokers yesterday said in the past few months there has been a marked upswing in this method of approach. Criminal... read more Now landline diversion is used in cheque frauds The practice of writing out cheques may have to be abandoned altogether I've come to the conclusion that fraudsters have made the issuing of cheques far, far too risky. A few weeks ago I reported how a cheque a Pretoria car repair business posted was intercepted, "washed" of its detail... read more Anti-hijacking tips at home • Check your driveway and street before you leave or enter your premises. When approaching your driveway be extra alert. Switch off the car radio and concentrate on your surroundings. • Make sure your driveway is well lit and clear of shrubbery in which criminals could hide. • Be aware of pe... read more Stolen-car syndicate up to its old tricks They steal a vehicle and then sell it to unsuspecting clients Vehicle-tracking company Matrix has issued a warning to people who are in the market for a second-hand car to be extra vigilant when buying these vehicles privately. The company's control room has recently received a number ... read more They've got your number Cellphone dead? Landlines not working? Before contacting the phone company, get hold of your bank first What if someone gets hold of one of your cheques, alters it or copies it, makes it out to cash - in a large amount - and then tries to cash it at a bank? Well, the bank staff is supp... read more Making sure the store's not padding the prices Furniture industry taken to task for duping poor and vulnerable The ombud for financial services providers, Charles Pillai, dropped a bombshell on South Africa's mass market furniture industry last week. He accused Barnetts, a division of retail furniture giant the JD Group, of duping ... read more Beware smash-and-grabs, warn Joburg police Joburg police have warned motorists to be on the alert for smash-and-grab criminals in the CBD and surrounding areas. This comes after a Standard Bank employee was stabbed and robbed of his cellphone and wallet during peak afternoon traffic on the corner of Sauer and President streets. Franc... read more Identity-theft risk from pay-slip info A leading life assurer has warned that some public and private sector employers are unwittingly playing into the hands of identity thieves by including detailed personal and financial product information on pay slips. As a result, an urgent review of pay-slip practice is necessary in order to pr... read more Don't be duped Never open attachments in e-mails from anyone you don't know or from an unreliable source, as they could contain spyware or a link to a phishing site. Be cautious about the personal information, like your date of birth, that you make available in online forums or on social networking sites lik... read more OR Tambo: Take special care Members of the public have once more been urged to exercise extra caution when travelling to and from OR Tambo International Airport. The warning was issued by national police spokesman Captain Dennis Adriao yesterday. A large number of unsuspecting victims reported being mugged and robbed las... read more Beware SIM card swop scam Fraudsters have found a way to access bank accountsthrough victims' cellphones. Clayton Barnes reports A Western Cape man was defrauded of more than R100 000 shortly before Christmas after he fell victim to a Joburg syndicate that illegally swopped his cellphone SIM card so that they could... read more Shop security warning BUSINESSES face a higher risk during the festive season Shopping centres have been urged to increase security over the festive season after two armed robberies at Westgate Mall. According to 702 news, three armed men stole cash and a computer from the Ocean Basket in the centre o... read more Scam offer to print banknotes Money schemes and fraudsters are milking hard-earned funds of unsuspecting victims, with new scams being devised all the time. The Provincial Commisioner of the SAPS in the Eastern Cape, Mpumelelo Landu, has sent an urgent statement to the public urging them to be aware of the “Black Dollar Scam”... read more More adaptors on hazardous list Have you been using or recently bought electrical adaptors from Voltco? Using these adaptors can prove to be fatal, according to the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). Yesterday, the regulatory body issued a warning to consumers to stop using adaptors from Voltco immediately. This... read more Don't let your home be a target while you're away Those heading off for the holidays should spare a thought for the things they leaving behind- and make sure they'll see them again.Trish Beaver reports on security measures that need to be taken If you're going away this festive season, don't make the mistake of spending too much time plan... read more 'Use your computer with your brain turned on' Hackers are no longer just teenagers getting their kicks from destroying your computer - they're criminals aiming to steal your banking and credit card details, or even steal your identity. Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and YouTube are also high-risk areas, because users make pe... read more Safety tips for the festive season With just over a month before Christmas, consumers have been warned to shop with caution as criminals are at their most active at this time. Itumeleng Monale, the self service channel director at Standard Bank, says consumers often get so wrapped up in the joys of the festive season that they ma... read more Sim swap e-mail scam Don’t be duped by a new “sim swap” spam scam doing the rounds of e-mail inboxes. The e-mail, disguised as a warning against such scams, is bait in an online phishing attempt. The sender hopes to lure people onto a fake bank website to solicit personal information and banking details. Called... read more Better start checking those best-by dates Our food laws prohibit the sale of expired goods, right? Well, no, not yet they don't. In fact our current food regulations don't even require foodstuffs to carry a "best before" or "use by" date at all. And some stores routinely sell goods which are past their best-by dates, in the hope that... read more Don't fall for cut-off con artists, city warns Joburg residents have been warned to be on the lookout for fraudsters posing as city officials and requesting payments to avert disconnection of services. According to Mandy Jean Woods, spokesperson for the City's Department of Revenue and Customer Relations Management, their credit management t... read more How to avoid being a victim With an increasing number of brazen criminals targeting individuals, it is important that you know how to protect yourself from becoming a victim as well as what to do in the event of being targeted. Here are few tips to bear in mind: *Know all emergency numbers by heart or place them on on spee... read more What to do in a hijacking situation More than 12 000 hijackings took place in the last year, in many instances victims were injured or killed during the incident. Applying the following tips could save your life. nAlways try to remain calm and do not attempt to show any signs of aggression. *Be compliant to all demands set by th... read more How to avoid a mugging Unfortunately, mugging is one of the common crimes that unaware people fall victim to in the streets and shopping malls every day. The following are just some of the simple measures that you can take so that you are not targeted. *Look around you and be aware of your surroundings. *Remember, a... read more Crime Tips According to Tracker's statistics (based on some 35 000 recoveries and 460 000 customers), more than half of all hijackings reported to Tracker occur when people are arriving or leaving home. Thus, you are most vulnerable where you live. Follow these safety tips to drastically reduce your ch... read more Safety starts in your own home One woman has dedicated her time to educating domestic workers about how to prevent crime Domestic workers are increasingly being used by criminals to gain access to and information about their employers. And the latest trends are alarming. Domestic Watch co-ordinator Penny Stein s... read more Scammers prey on the country's poorest Commercial Crime Unit is investigating at least 18 pyramid schemes countrywide Police are currently investigating 18 pyramid-scheme scams, the latest of which operates mainly in Gauteng, North West and the Free State and has fleeced South Africans of at least R104-million. Gauteng poli... read more Welcome to the Hotel Scamifornia (part 1) Two names, two websites - book and pay your deposit via the wrong one and you get blank looks when you try check in Accommodation booking scams usually go something like this. Someone places a classified advert for a holiday apartment or cottage in a newspaper, then asks respondents to... read more Welcome to the Hotel Scamifornia (part 2) Accommodation booking scams usually go something like this. Someone places a classified advert for a holiday apartment or cottage in a newspaper, then asks respondents to pay rental upfront into a bank account. The would-be holidaymakers then discover that the accommodation either doesn't ex... read more Oops! We have made a mistake … Now pay up Cellphone data content - that's ringtones, wallpapers, MMSes, etc - are expensive, and many people have responded to an advert thinking they were making a one-off purchase, but later finding themselves locked in to a subscription service. Both the Advertising Standards Authority and the Wireless... read more How many other leases have been doctored? letting agent stooped to forging a tenant's signature on a lease agreement in order to score six months' extra commission on the deal. Unluckily for her, the tenant was no pushover What do you do if you know you only signed a six-month lease to rent a flat, but the letting agency insists ... read more You're through to 0861-RIP-OFF. Please be patient A lot of South Africans make the mistake of assuming that any number starting with 08 is a free call, or at least share-call. Wrong. 0800 numbers are free, but few companies have these because they attract hoax callers. 0860 numbers are share-call - you pay a local rate (38 cents a minute in... read more Fake colgate toxin scare The US Food and Drug Administration has found counterfeit Colgate toothpaste falsely labelled as "manufactured in South Africa" that may contain the toxin diethylene glycol. According to AP, the FDA found the toothpaste during routine testing in four states. Claire Campbell of Colgate South ... read more Oasis of Abundance shady, charities warn Several charity organisations have called on the public not to give money to an organisation calling itself Oasis of Abundance. They claim it is fraudulently raising funds. This follows a letter being circulated by a Manie Steyn, saying he runs a non-profit organisation and wants donations o... read more When 'new' is not quite new A cellphone previously returned by an dissatisfied customer to the shop is presented to another client as new, but the manager says this is not standard practice and should not have happened You know that nice new cellphone you got when you renewed your contract with your service provider?... read more Warning as bank card fraud cases increase sharply South Africa's banks have embarked on an awareness campaign in the wake of an escalation in bank card fraud. As more and more credit cards become available to consumers, so do the opportunities for criminals to cash in, says the SA Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric). In one year (from ... read more Don't eat Klip River's fish, says expert Don't eat Klip River's fish, says expert The fish-selling business is booming at informal fishmongers alongside the Golden Highway, south of Johannesburg - and no one seems fussed that the fish come from the nearby Klip River, which is polluted. And Easter time, say unlicensed fisherme... read more Beware of illegally imported vehicles Warning from the Pretoria police for motorists to beware of buying illegally imported second-hand cars. Superintendent Ronnie Naidoo said to the media on Tuesday that a large number of vehicles were being brought into the country under false pretences. “Unscrupulous dealers are acquiring vehic... read more Know your phishers from your spoofers JOHANNESBURG – The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) has warned that the main methods of Internet fraud are: * Phishing: A fraudster sends messages, supposedly from a company (for example, a bank), to illegally obtained e-mail addresses. They then ask for personal informatio... read more FNB customers be aware There is a scam (Phishing)e-mail being sent out asking FNB customers to update their account and at the same time innocently giving out their personal information which can then be used to extract money. The 'Link' on the e-mail www.fnb.co.za does not take you to the FNB website address but to a... read more Cars with tints, no plates to be seized From next week, Ekurhuleni Metro Police will impound cars with illegal or no licence plates, darkly-tinted windows and decorative lights. Supt Vusi Mabanga warned those motorists who contravened the National Road Traffic Act that their cars would be impounded or discontinued as part of an operati... read more Beware: card-skimming syndicates doing big business In the City of Gold, plastic is king. That is because credit-card skimming is as rife as ever. According to Ashley Hanscombe, an investigator for Nedbank American Express, this type of commercial crime is "just horrific at the moment", with areas that affluent people frequent, such as Fourways, ... read more Tricks in the postman's bag Their products may well be 'fabulous', but the letters that some mail order companies send out to addresses across the land are mostly just plain phoney, with many people sending off their hard-earned cash with no idea of what they're really buying Mail order or "home shopping" companies' adverts... read more Hunt on for car hire fraudster The owner of M&F car hire has warned rental firms to be on the lookout for a Mozambican who takes out 30-day deals and doesn’t return cars. Yusuf Ismail Alli said two of his cars, a Nissan Hardbody bakkie and a Mazda Rustler, were due to be returned on December 8m, but he did not get them back. ... read more Credit cards are on the menu for crooked waiters Hopes rest on new chip technology to curb fraud all the way to Europe International crime syndicates are using local waiters to defraud banks and their clients of millions of rands in a sophisticated card-skimming scam. According to the SA Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric), the b... read more Police warn women over car smash and grabs Women motorists who leave their handbags on the seat next to them are increasingly becoming victims of smash-and-grab robberies. Police have put the blame squarely on the negligence of motorists. Johannesburg police spokesperson Superintendent Chris Wilken says women motorists have been targe... read more What to do if your pet has been targeted When a dog ingests a poisonous substance it will start foaming at the mouth and experiencing tremors. "People will be able to tell immediately that the dog is not well, and we urge them to get the animal to a vet as quickly as possible," said Allison Cooper of the Booysens SPCA. A poisoned a... read more Conmen This is a warning to the general public about two conmen. Their modus operandi is as follows: They sit in coffee bars and speak loudly about deals they are busy with. Claiming to be liquidators on behalf of SARS. They offer computers and Tvs for sale at greatly reduced prices. They request a 50%... read more Report kidnapping at once: police Police have warned parents to report kidnappings and even attempted kidnappings immediately. A mother’s visit to an East Rand shopping mall almost ended in tragedy when two men staged an audacious attempt to snatch her only child. Jacqui Alberts took her five-year old son Andrique to a clinic ... read more Police issue warning on 2010 lottery scam An e-mail scam informing people that they have won money in the "SA 2010 World Cup Bid Lottery" is circulating again. Police yesterday issued a warning to people that the scam, in which victims are targeted and promised huge payouts, is nothing more than a fraudulent attempt to extort money from... read more Beware of fund-raiser using SANParks name South Africa’s largest conservation organisation SANParks is being used as a front for unscrupulous “fund-raisers”. Now active on the West Rand, the “fund raisers” carry documents bearing the SANParks logo and its website address. They were “most definitely not” associated with the organisatio... read more Women hitch lifts, strip, then rob men Police have urged motorists to be wary of offering a lift to hitchhiking women, who trick them into handing over their valuables. It is believed a gang of women pretend to hitchhike along the R114 in Muldersdrift on the West Rand and more men are falling prey. According to West Rand police spo... read more E- Mail aware warnings - just incase For those who would rather be safe than sorry - Webmaster: During the next several weeks be VERY cautious about opening or launching any e-mails that refer to the World Trade Center or 9/11 in any way, regardless of who sent it. PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. FOR THOSE WHO DON... read more SARS cautions taxpayers over scam linked to refund payment A syndicate - believed to have been operating for about three months - is targeting taxpayers by fraudulently soliciting money from them. According to SA Revenue Service (Sars) spokesperson Adrian Lackay, they have received inquiries and complaints from a number of businesses about the scam. ... read more Warnings from guarding companies In some neighbourhoods, cold drink cans are left on the pavement to indicate the level of force involved in breaking in or stealing from you. CREAM SODA CANS ARE USED AS GREEN * green - go ahead - all clear (nobody home!!!) COKE CAN AS RED * red - be prepared to use armed force or ... read more Girl missing Ivory Park police are looking for a Kaalfontein girl, Nonhlanhla Pretty Mnguni who went missing on her way to an ATM to withdraw cash. If you can help please phone Inspector Mathole at 011 310 3696 ... read more Have you seen this rapist Police are looking for a suspected rapist who attacked and strangled an 18-year-old woman at Dunswart station. Superintendent Andy Pieke said the woman was waiting for a taxi near the Boksburg taxi rank on January 29th this year when she was raped. Police are looking for a man aged between 20 ... read more Card fraud red alert Watch out, Bulgarian syndicate could be hitting your account Credit and debit card scams are threatening to spiral out of control as fraudsters continue to hit bank accounts countrywide. Banks admit that the problem is increasing, despite the introduction of sophisticated detection sys... read more Watch out for new lottery scam Police have warned the public not to fall prey to a new scam conning people out of thousands of rands. The new scam called the “SA 2020 World Cup Bid Lottery” was started by unknown sources in 2004 after South Africa won the bid to host the 2010 World Cup. Potential victims are notified via e-... read more ‘Police’ rob storage facility of cigarettes worth R20 000 Two men and a woman clad in police uniforms – and who may have been actual members of the SAPS – took cartons of cigarettes worth about R20 000 when they robbed a storage facility in Alrode, Alberton on the East Rand on Tuesday evening. Superintendent Andy Pieke said the trio arrived at the busin... read more Ninth - no proof of serial killer Another body of a woman has been found in Centurion, but police are still dismissing rumours of a serial killer being on the loose. A passer-by found the body lying in an open field yesterday and alerted police. Police Superintendent Morne van Wyk said the body was found in an advanced stage o... read more Northgate rape worry Police say reports about a so-called rape hotspot in Honeydew on the West Rand may not be entirely accurate, but people should still exercise caution when walking alone at night. A radio report yesterday quoted a Johannesburg doctor, who said he was concerned about a possible rape hotspot in the ... read more Beware of fake chambers The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce has issued a warning to the public about bogus business chambers established to "milk" cash out of them. "We urge local businesses to check the credentials of organisations purporting to be chambers ... before being taken in by such misrepresentation," said t... read more Cops unsure if serial killer prowls Pretoria Pretoria police yesterday cautiously dismissed rumours that a serial killer is on the loose in Centurion. Superintendent Morné van Wyk said there were a number of murders that had occurred and were being investigated, but this did not necessarily mean a serial killer was prowling the area. “Th... read more Banks warn of new ATM card scam Banks have once again warned ATM users of a new card-skimming device doing the rounds. Unsuspecting ATM users are being caught off-guard by criminals using a hand-held card-skimming device. According to Absa, customers are approached by two or three criminals while inserting their card and PIN... read more Police warn of bogus repair men Police have warned domestic workers not to open gates or doors to people claiming to be repair men. This is after a house robber in Alberton this week in which a domestic worker was overpowered by a gang of six men. “She alleges the suspects gained entry on the pretext that they had come to clea... read more Give money to us only, says SPCA The SPCA has warned the public to be wary of people posing as SPCA employees asking for donations. The National Council of the SPCA said they did not use a third party to collect funds, and SPCA collectors had identification and documents on them. Christine Kuch, spokesman for the SPCA, said a... read more New robbery scam warning The SAPS in Moroka, Soweto, have warned the community about a new house robbery trend in the area. Sergeant Richard Munyai said a few cases had been opened involving a woman who stood next to a house screaming she was being robbed. "She will then run into a yard pretending to be seeking help. ... read more Conmen Targeting schools and charities A group of Nigerian conmen is reportedly targeting schools and charities. The group is allegedly using Pick’n Pay’s name to extract funds from schools and charities. To date, six schools in Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have been reported as having been duped. “The group sends let... read more Beware of latest ATM fraud scam Police have warned ATM users to be aware of new scams. This is after a man who had just withdrawn cash at an Absa ATM in Germiston was conned into handing over his money. While walking away from the ATM he saw a bundle of cash lying in the street. Suddenly a woman came from behind him, grab... read more Smash and grab cases growing, warn experts Smash and grab attacks on South African motorists are increasing say glass fitting and insurance companies. Their figures show an average of 25 smashed windows a day are replaced in Durban alone. Last year in Pretoria 13 198 cases of theft out of motor vehicles were reported. “Statistics as... read more Beware of cheque scam A new crime syndicate is committing cheque fraud by printing and issuing to the public fake Absa Bank cheques with an Absa Bank head office account number on it. The fraudsters’ modus operandi is to send third parties to purchase goods before the close of business, but after banking hours. The... read more Online fake degree scam A new wave of fake degrees has hit South Africa backed by a major e-mail campaign. The e-mails are said to come from a man named Bernard Alison and promise “a genuine university degree in two weeks”. It also clearly states that no study is required for a variety of degrees from a BA to MBA and... read more Most common scams being used 1. Account take-over If fraudsters or fraud syndicates are able to access your personal information, they do not even need your credit card. They simply phone your bank or credit card company and change your address information. They will then report your current card lost and request... read more Stolen guaranteed cheques a big problem Problems with stolen “bank guaranteed” cheques appear to be fairly widespread, if the response by readers to a story in The Citizen on Monday is anything to go by. A number of people have contacted the paper following publication of the difficulties a Pretoria businessman had with a bank-guarante... read more Cheque post scam Johannsburg's Revenue Department has fallen victim to a Post Office scam in which an apparent syndicate of criminals intercepts cheques sent by post. Revenue Department spokesman Mandy Jean Woods said many of the cheques intercepted by the syndicate were intended for the city's coffers. Many wer... read more Bogus collectors out: SPCA The SPCA has warned bogus collectors are making the rounds of Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, claiming to be raising funds for the organisation. A woman has been spotted at Balfour Park shopping centre with an SPCA tin and stickers, seeking donations. She provides a name and number to contact... read more Beware of fake notes over Christmas, warns bank Shop owners and the general public have been warned to watch out for fake money over the festive season. Rennies Bank Operations Director, Craig Macfarlane said counterfeiters mostly targeted unsuspecting retailers and jewellery stores in a bid to exchange fake money for high quality goods, which... read more Every corner is a hot spot, warn police Pretoria police have warned motorists to treat every street intersection, stop sign and driveway in the townships or suburbs as a hijacking hotspot. Depending on the type of car or models being sought be the hi-jackers, at any given time a motorist is a potential victim. Captain Piletzi Sebola... read more Warning to traffic offenders Repeat traffic offenders had better be careful or their vehicles will be confiscated. According to Auto & General Insurance (A&G), the risk has increased substantially for drivers who repeatedly commit traffic violations to have their vehicles confiscated. That includes those with multiple fin... read more Drugged popcorn: warning An innocent night out at the movies can turn into a traumatic affair. "Reservist police officers found sexual predators and drug dealers are targeting young girls at local movie houses to expose them to the dark world of drugs and sex," said Constable Basani Chauke, spokesman for Boksburg North p... read more ATM fraud scams still rife Hi Tech fraudsters are still fleecing ATM users by using tiny, hard to spot micro-spyware, banks have warned. Card skimming devices read personal details of the magnetic strips on the back of credit cards while micro-cameras film the secret PIN codes of customers being entered. That informatio... read more Men offer R5 000 for girl,7 A Kempton Park woman, Kim Pickl, is very upset about an incident in which two men offered her domestic worker R5 000 for Pickl’s seven-year-old daughter. The worker, who was walking the girl home from a Norkem Park school on Friday, kept her cool and ran away with the child. Kim Pickl related ... read more Serial rapist on the loose A serial rapist has attacked seven women in the Vaal and Lenasia areas in the past four months, police said yesterday. Three rapes were being investigated in the Vaal said Superintendent Maria Mazibuko. "The first rape happened in July and the other two in August. He is targeting women betwee... read more Beware of bogus police officers Bogus cops travelling in an official police vehicle hijacked a cargo truck carrying goods to the value of over R1m on the N3 near Grootvlei in Mpumalanga on Sunday evening. It was the third incident in less than four months where people acting as police officers committed crimes in the area. A... read more Cops turn 'ghost busters' Bikers deliberately removing their motorcycles' licence plates to prevent getting speeding fines are looking for trouble. That is the warning from Johannesburg metro Police (JMPD) spokesman Senior Superintendent Wayne Minaar, in response to an inquiry by The Citizen about the increasing phenomeno... read more Beware of tyre thieves North Rand police have warned motor vehicle owners to be vigilant, as thieves are stealing tyres from vehicles, especially in the Kempton Park central business district. Truck drivers especially should be on the look-out. "Tyres are stolen from vehicles parked in a street or other open spaces," ... read more Fears grow as robbers hit malls The frequency of armed robberies at shopping malls in Gauteng and the Western Cape has caused anxiety among property owners and shopping centre managers. On Sunday a robber was shot dead during an armed robbery at a jewellery store in Pretoria’s Brooklyn Mall. In another incident also on Sunday,... read more Licence scam over the Internet A new bogus driver’s licence scam, which allows drivers to buy an international driver’s permit over the Internet, has hit South Africa. Available from two sites that both appear to be situated in the United States, the so-called :”International Driver’s Permit” offered by both sites for between ... read more Beware - Criminals use animals in car jackings. It seems some criminals don't act like animals only when committing crimes, but even resort to using animals to take advantage of victims. This was one woman's experience when she was travelling on the N1 highway in Johannesburg. The woman noticed two youths walking with a dog tied to a string... read more The Soft Targets Criminal syndicates see malls, shops as soft targets Crime syndicates see shopping malls and retail outlets as soft targets, the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) says. This is because they are seen as less secure than the other favourite targets of armed gang... read more Guard your banking info Do not give strangers your banking details. That is the warning from several banks after the emergence of another 419 scam. In this latest scam fraudsters call unsuspecting clients to congratulate them on winning a holiday trip for two. Victims are then asked for their name, address, names of... read more Police warning on illegals Anyone who employs illegal immigrants will be fined up to R25 000 if caught by the police. That is the stern warning from the commander of Dawn Park detectives, Captain Pine Pienaar after a number of illegal immigrants were arrested on the East Rand recently. "There is a big problem with illeg... read more Cash-in-Transit: ram'n rob the norm Ramming cars into cash-in-transit vehicles to facilitate a robbery is on the increase on Johannesburg freeways. In four separate incidents in the past few weeks’ luxury cars have rammed cash-in-transit vehicles off the roads and robberies have followed. Yesterday a gang of gunmen stole several... read more Thieves are targeting E Rand filling stations Petrol thieves are targeting East Rand filling stations with at least four cases recently reported to police. Authorities have now urged owners of filling stations to update their video cameras and equipment, and to make sure they are in working order. Two occupants of a maroon Toyota Corolla ... read more Victim says bogus police may be real The efficiency and frequency with which armed robberies are committed by people posing as police – or actual corrupt members of the SAPS – left a Johannesburg businessman outraged this week. His anger was aggravated by the fact that a passing police patrol failed to assist him when he was dropped... read more Shoplifting on the increase The trend of criminals opting to make a living through shoplifting is on the increase. This is according to the Consumer Goods Council of SA (CGC-SA), which claims the offenders operate in gangs with a remarkable degree of skill and planning. “Shoplifting should never be regarded as a harmless... read more R2m stolen a week in card fraud The old, the trusting and the unsophisticated are being robbed of millions every week through ATM and credit card fraud. It is estimated fraudsters got away with over R2m last week – merely by noticing the mistakes made by trusting victims using automatic teller machines (ATM’s) credit or debit c... read more Murder toll is three kids a day! More than three children are murdered in South Africa every day. Mike Waters, spokesman on child abuse for the Democratic Alliance (DA), made this shocking revelation. In three-months from January to March last year, a shocking 293 children were murdered in this country, said Waters. “This ... read more Thieves click as they flick through pages A couple of years ago, not many people would have predicted the advent of the cellphone. Even fewer would have predicted that these new devices would be capable of taking photographs. But now some crafty users have taken cellphone photography to a new height by illegally snapping away at book pa... read more Beware of Jewels Con The North East Rand SAPS Precious Metals and Diamond Unit is investigating several cases where people have been conned out of thousands of rands. The elaborate scam involves the “sale” of “precious stones”. Some people have lost between R8 000 and R10 000. Victims are often chosen because t... read more Beware of Phoney Colleges, warns DTI The Department of Trade and Industry has issued a warning about what it calls “fly-by-night” educational institutions taking advantage of vulnerable people. In a consumer alert the department identifies these institutions as not being registered with the industry sector training authority, the De... read more Details of Cyber Attack on SA Bank A/c's Revealed On the morning of May 19, South Africans around the country began receiving e-mails, purporting to have been sent by Standard Bank. If they were customers of Standard Bank, the e-mail asked them to click on a website, where they would be urged to update their banking details. It was a classic ... read more Rape Alert in Boksburg Ramaphos informal settlement in Boksburg has been declared a danger zone, where women are to be on the alert at all times. This , according to the spokesman for the Reiger Park SAPS, Sasa Lengene, is because of a spate of gang rapes in the area. “We are experiencing a sharp rise in rapes in Ra... read more Hijackings in Early Morning Soweto police have warned drivers to be more vigilant and expressed their concern over a number of hijackings in Soweto over the past weekend. Three people were robbed of their vehicles at gunpoint after dark. The early morning hours seem to be the most dangerous. Two men and a woman are kn... read more Forewarned is Forearmed Don’t get robbed, Police Warn Diners Boksburg North police appealed to diners to keep personal belonging out of view in restaurants. Diners “simply place their handbags on the floor or hang them from the back of their chair”, said Sergeant Nicka Velthuysen. “By placing personal belongings i... read more Watch your Tail! Robbers Tail Shoppers Police have warned that robbers are tailing victims from retail stores and banks. Norwood Pick’n Pay customers had reported being tailed and these and other specific cases were being addressed urgently, police said. “Drastic steps have been taken to address this proble... read more Metro Police Arrest Another Officer Johannesburg Metropolitan Police (JMPD) yesterday arrested yet another of their corrupt patrolmen and his civilian accomplice. “Since December, the JMPD has already arrested 66 of its members for corruption. That proves how serious the JMPD is taking this evil,” Senior Superintendent Way Minnaa... read more Criminals Living in Secure Areas Residential security complexes are not only for those wanting to protect themselves from the criminal element – “crime masterminds” are using them as a base for their nefarious business. Pretoria police spokesman Captain Piletji Sebola said investigations and the recovery of stolen electrical app... read more A Cry from the Heart Stop Baby Dumping! The only way to stop mothers from dumping their babies is for the public to report suspects, say police. They are appealing to people to come forward with information that could assist in their investigations. “We are also looking for anyone who may be sick or suffering... read more Shock Forecast on Freed Felons About 70% of offenders released from prisons since June will land up back in jail. This unequivocal statement was made by Professor Charl Cillers, of Unisa's Criminology Department specialising in penology. He reacted after a statement by the Department of Correctional Services, in which it ca... read more DA Launch Anti-Kidnap Campaign The Democratic Alliance yesterday launched a campaign aimed at eradicating child abduction in S.Africa. Party spokesman Mike Waters said they approached chief executives of cellphone companies, radio stations and retail chains to request a meeting "to discuss our proposals on combating child abdu... read more Old News? Hijacking Made Easy Repentant Car Hijacker explains how it is done – Star Thursday August 12 2004: Rashid Bin Salim (28) stole and hijacked cars for more than 14 years before deciding to go straight. Now he is a struggling fashion designer who presents motivational talks at schools in ... read more Not so Safe Townhouse Security an Empty Promise They lay asleep, secure in the knowledge that their security complex was safe. But upon waking last Thursday morning, the Luptons quickly realised that the burglar bars on their windows and high walls surrounding the complex were no deterrent to crimina... read more Report Child Porn: Minister The Minister of Home Affairs has urged members of the public to report people who might be involved in child pornography. Speaking at the National Conference Against Child Pornography yesterday, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said every child deserved a childhood that included a period of innocence. ... read more Fake CV's up by 20% Fake employee qualifications are on the increase, with between 15% and 20% turning out to be fraudulent, experts say. Speaking at a Marcus Evans conference on fraud prevention and eradication in Johannesburg yesterday, Kroll MIE company spokesman Dr Elmarie Liebenberg said almost a quarter of a... read more Date Rape Beware Date Rape at Clubs: Drugwise Drugwise has warned women and men to be more vigilant at entertainment venues and social gatherings. This follows an increase in the number of reported date rapes in the past few months. Drugwise awareness group spokesman Jenni Wiltshire said the substanc... read more SPAMMED! Phishing Spree Hits SA Banks Cyber criminals have struck at the heart of South African commerce with a vengeance. Spam is clogging the Internet for South African users, with a 300% overload reported at the weekend, while big banks in the past few days have been beset by "phishing" fraud... read more Bogus e-mail: FNB Warns Clients First National Bank (FNB) yesterday issued a warning to customers after claims of a bogus e-mail seeking to defraud unsuspecting clients. The bank established a fraudulent e-mail is in circulation, attempting to collect customers' Internet banking details via a "spoof" website. FNB discovered ... read more Identity Theft on the Increase Fraud in South Africa has increased by 15%, according to the South African Fraud Prevention Services (SAFPS). According to the service, from March last year to April, 1940 cases of identity theft and impersonation had been reported, involving a total of more than R6.7m. The executive director ... read more Virus Warning Vicious PC 'Worm' Virus Spreading Fast A new computer virus has been detected that could prove to be the most serious threat to PC users this year. The latest variant of the virulent Sober virus is infecting computers worldwide. More than 100 000 infected e-mails have been collected... read more Blacklisting your Stollen/Lost Cellphone To help rid the country of cellphone theft and senseless crime please report your stollen or lost cellphones to the police and the following contact numbers for blacklisting: Cell C: 140 toll-free from any Cell C number or 084 140 from a landline. MTN: 0831173 or 083 1808 ... read more Crime in the Police Force Disturbing reports regarding police corruption and fraud in the country have caused some citizens to describe the SAPS as "a huge bluff". This is in light of the number of complaints regarding police services, as well as the role the SAPS fulfil in the prevention of crime. Despite the statisti... read more Beware of Hijackers using life like Dolls A new approach of hijacking vehicles has been used by placing a doll/dummie on the road while the hijackers lay in wait for an unsuspecting motorist.... read more Conmen posing as Company Directors A new scam, has come to light after two Johannesburg companies realised their board of directors had been replaced by conmen. Although none of the directors of CTP Printers and Publishers, the company that runs The Citizen, or corporate communications company Ince have in fact resigned, the recor... read more ATM Pin Scams Apart from being suspicious about the notes spitting out of an ATM, people should also become alarmed when ATM's repeatedly request their PIN numbers. What happens is a thin, clear, rigid plastic sleeve is inserted into the ATM card slots. When a card is inserted the ATM cannot read the magnet... read more Be Aware! Keep an eye on your credit card, it's best to not let it out of your sight. One of the areas you might want to be aware of is restaurants. It has been reported that syndicates are copying credit cards for fraudulent purposes. Criminals are using devices to copy credit card details and then ... read more White Collar Crime A recently conducted KPMG fraud survey, which included the public sector, has indicated a 13% increase in worker fraud since the last survey in 1999. Geoff Midlane, managing director of Stallion Investigations, a division of Stallion Security, says white-collar crime costs the South African econo... read more Business's - Take note One or more syndicates are ordering large quantities of items and/or products of high value via the telephone and usually they are in a hurry. Cash is then supposedly paid into the company's bank account and proof of payment is faxed and the goods are released, usually to a third party. 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