CHEATS do prosper in Richards Bay according to a survey conducted by the Richards Bay SAPS.
According to an assessment by the local police, fraud cases have increased by over 30% since last year, as unsuspecting community members continue to fall victim to deceitful offers and promises made by convincing strangers.
‘At least six cases of fraud are reported to this police station per week,’ said Richards Bay SAPS Spokesperson Debbie Ferreira.
‘Last year, it was only around four per week.
‘We urge the public to be wary of all fraudulent activities in classified advertisements in the newspaper and on websites such as OLX and Gumtree.
‘Scams are also rife in car sales, false job offers, ID fraud and in the money market, which allows short-term borrowing, lending, buying and selling.’
Ferreira emphasised the importance for consumers to remain wary of paying deposits before doing a background check on the seller.
‘Before, for instance, buying a car online, first verify the credentials of the dealer.
‘So many people pay deposits and end up never seeing the items sought.
‘When making use of the money market, never let anyone, including the teller, see your PIN number.
‘And when you are offered a job or seek a loan, you should never have to pay a fee before obtaining the work position or funds.
‘Companies do not ask potential employees for money to do medical examinations or paperwork before offering you the job,’ Ferreira said.
Last year, an FNB/Visa study revealed credit card and related devices fraud comes to around R900m per year and a third of South Africans have been tricked by shams.
Companies have not had it easier – PricewaterhouseCoopers found that South African firms experience more fraud and bribery than the rest of the world, in its Global Economic Crime Survey 2014.
