CAPE TOWN – “Brazen card scammers are on the rise, and the public is urged to stay alert and protect themselves from falling victim,” said Marc Truss, chair of the Cape Town Central Community Policing Forum (CPF), following an influx in card scamming in the Cape Town CBD area.
In the most recent case, police arrested five suspects on Wednesday 17 September for possession of presumed-stolen property and fraud under the Electronics Act.
Cpt FC van Wyk, provincial police spokesperson, said officers attached to the Maitland Flying Squad were patrolling in the Cape Town CBD when they spotted a silver Toyota Urban Cruiser identical to one allegedly used in several card scamming incidents in the Western Cape.
“Members indicated to the driver of the vehicle to pull over, but instead the vehicle swerved towards the police vehicle and sped off.
Van Wyk said police managed to block the car off on the corner of Loop and Strand Street, where the suspects were arrested.
He said a search of the vehicle revealed it was a rental fitted with false number plates.
“Inside the officers found two banking keypads, two hand radios as well as caps and name tags of security and tour-guide badges, and bank cards of an individual in Greece.”
He said the suspects appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Friday 19 September.
Truss said tourists are especially vulnerable to scams.
“These perpetrators will identify tourists and approach them by telling them they need permits to walk in certain areas. They would ask the victim to insert their credit card into a small device with keypads (a card-skimming device) to ‘pay’ for the ‘permits’.”
He said it is most common in areas such as the CBD, Green Point, Sea Point and even Paarl and Franschhoek, which tourists frequent.
According to Truss the perpetrators are often dressed up as security officers armed with hand radios.
Truss urged locals to be vigilant and assist tourists who may be unfamiliar with common scams or in need of help.
“Tell visitors they do not need a permit to move around. Do not hand your credit card to anyone. When you are approached by someone walk to a nearby shop or just walk away.”
