SAPS Tongaat has been dealing with a surge in cases involving scams and online fraud, where perpetrators have defrauded victims with “sugar-coated” adverts. According to communications officer Captain Jasanathan Naidoo, these cases often involve victims being lured by promises of quick gains or unusually good deals.
Captain Naidoo said: “To put it ‘bluntly’, there are many people that are greedy. I’m not referring to the perpetrators but I’m referring to the victim.” He added that the community needs to take responsibility for their own safety and be cautious when making purchases, especially online.
Naidoo warned: “The community needs to take ownership of their downfall as well. If you see, for example, a R100,000 vehicle being sold for R30,000, don’t just jump into the deal as anyone can see that there’s something wrong with the advert. Beware of ‘online specials’. Ensure that you order from reputable sources and not by fly-by-night sellers.”
Naidoo also advised retirees to invest their money in reputable banks rather than unknown schemes. He said: “Some invest with unknown scams and realise later that their hard-earned money is gone. As I’ve said, in most cases it’s greed. The victims are tempted to make a quick buck. It’s a big chance they take as we see a lot of depressed victims who regret their actions. As much as we blame the perpetrator, we need to do our homework first before committing to purchases.”
