THE Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in Nelson Mandela Bay has issued a warning for the community to be wary of and guarded against scammers using the unit’s name and those of fictitious police officers to extort money.
The unit has received at least five complaints in the last year from people who alleged that a “police officer” from the specialised unit telephonically contacts people and informs them that they are suspects in rape and sexual offences cases.
The bogus caller would request money varying from R5 000 to R7 000 to be paid.
Only on one occasion, an account number was given by the scammer. The caller would also indicate that the money is shared between himself and the prosecutor. The name of the prosecutor is also fictitious.
Police spokesperson, Col. Priscilla Naidu, said that the recipients of the calls are innocent people who are neither complainants nor suspects in any of the cases investigated by the unit.
Some of the victims are also from outside the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
“Police are warning people that at no stage will money be requested from any police official and that includes investigating officers for cases under investigation,” she said.
“If such a call is received, always make contact with the relevant unit or station before panicking and succumbing to the request. Never accept any numbers provided by the caller to return their call.”
– ISSUED BY OFFICE OF EASTERN CAPE SAPS COMMISSIONER
