SIM swop & ATM fraud on the increase

NW – “Beware of a wide variety of fraudulent transactions. Be proactive and vigilant!” brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, police spokesperson, warned on Tuesday, 16 January. 

A spike in fraudulent activities is taking place in: Tlhabane, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, Mmabatho, Mahikeng, Klerksdorp, Brits and Hartbeespoortdam – especially over weekends. 

The suspects are very innovatived. They swipe unsuspecting consumers’ bank cards and defraud them at automated teller machines (ATMs). 

In some other cases, consumers would receive calls requesting them to confirm their cell phone numbers or at least four digits thereof. Once that is done, they would then experience problems with their cell phones and are forced to switch them off. They would realise upon switching them on that their SIM cards have been blocked. The suspects would then do SIM swaps without the victim’s consent and access their accounts. 

According to Mokgwabone, members of the community are hereby advised to apply the following safety tips as part of preventative measures:

• Always be on high alert of people who lure you with too-good-to-be-true stories and products that are sold from the internet. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is… too-good-to-be-true! 
• Be careful of people who volunteer to assist you at the ATM. Never accept help from strangers when using an ATM. 
• Do not believe promises of easy money.
• Do not use repeat passwords for anything involving sensitive personal information.
• Avoid isolated ATMs and using them late at night.
• If you feel unsafe at an ATM or you are suspicious of individuals loitering in the vicinity of the ATM, trust your instincts, go away and use another ATM.