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Newcastle Police Detectives find themselves contending against scam “so-called” artists preying on unsuspecting Newcastillians.
Newcastle’s SAPS Corporate Communication’s media liaison, Lizzy Arumugam, points out that three cases are currently being investigated by local law enforcement.
The first incident occurred on 19 March 2022 at the Makenjee Arcade on Kirkland Street in the CBD.
Arumugam explains, “The complainant alleged that he was walking when he was approached by some males pretending to be police officers. They asked for his ID book and wrote down his names and ID number. The suspects also took his bank card from the ID book. The following day the complainant received an SMS that R1400-00 was withdrawn from his account.”
With police now investigating a fraud case, Arumugam explains that Newcastillians need to know their rights when confronted by people who claim to be police officers.
She emphasises, “When approached by a police official, ask them to produce their Identification Card before you answer any questions. Also, do not give your ID Number, Pin code and Bank Card to anyone.”
Following this case, a man found himself targeted by fraudsters outside the ABSA ATMs on Voortrekker Street on 9 April 2022.
Arumugam points out that the victim claimed he went to withdraw cash from the ATM when he was approached by an unknown suspect, who informed him that they were updating the ATMs and that his card needed to be scanned.
“The suspect then took the complainant’s card. After a few minutes, the complainant received an SMS that an amount of R7 400 was withdrawn from his account. “
On the same day, a case of theft was opened, following the actions of two cunning con artists on Murchison Street.
According to Arumugam, a gentleman was approached by an unknown man, who pretended to have picked up the money and offered to share it with the complainant.
The two men then went to a nearby corner to divide the money when a vehicle approached them. Arumugam states that the driver of the car told the two men that there was a robbery at a nearby shop – and that the man who offered to share the cash had been seen picking up the envelope after the robbery.
Both men were told to get into the vehicle. Once in the car, the victim was robbed of cash to the value of R3 650.
While police investigations into the three cases are underway, what are your thoughts?
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