THE time of year criminals up their game when everybody is in a festive and spending mood, but there are ways to outwit Zululand’s con artists and thieves.
Speaking about prominent crime trends in Richards Bay at the Meerensee Community Policing Forum (CPF) on Tuesday night, Business Against Crime Manager Dave Whittaker said ‘knowledge is power’ when it comes to scams in this region.
Whittaker says one of the most prominent cons re-occurring is SIM card swaps, where fraudsters request companies to swap out SIM cards to get one-time pin numbers necessary for internet banking transactions.
‘They phone you claiming to be the bank and speak most professionally to check your banking details,’ said Whittaker.
‘Never respond to them. Always phone the bank yourself or check that your internet banking is in order.’
Another popular crime committed by local syndicates is card skimming, in which syndicates attach a ‘skimming’ device to a city or town’s busiest ATMs to scan card data.
A small camera on the machine then records the pin number as it is entered.
‘ATM users must cover their hand when entering pin numbers at all times,’ says Whittaker.
He also advised card holders to swipe cards themselves at grocery stores, shops and restaurants.
Another popular trick relating to car thefts is where criminals use gate remote controls to block locking signals.
‘After locking your car with a remote, also physically check your car’s handle to see if it is in fact locked.’
Whittaker’s final tip is to have burglar bars and an alarm system installed before heading off on holiday.
‘Most people leave themselves open to robberies by not taking extra steps in protecting their homes and themselves,’ he said.
