TSHWANE – The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Tshwane is urging residents to exercise extreme caution when buying goods or services through social media platforms and online marketplaces, as criminals continue to use these platforms to defraud unsuspecting victims.

Police have warned the public to be particularly cautious of advertisements offering goods at prices significantly below market value. While such offers may appear to be genuine bargains, fraudsters often use unusually low prices to attract potential victims and persuade them to make deposits or payments before the transaction has been verified.

The SAPS advises residents not to make any payment or deposit until they have established that the advertised item exists, the seller is legitimate, and the transaction is genuine.

The public has also been warned against scanning QR codes at the request of unknown individuals. Criminals may claim that a QR code is required to receive money, process a refund, or complete a transaction.

Residents should first establish exactly what a QR code is for and verify the legitimacy of the request before scanning it.

Verify payments independently

Buyers and sellers are urged to use trusted and secure payment methods and not to rely solely on screenshots or electronic proof of payment.

Fraudsters can manipulate screenshots to create the impression that money has been transferred. Where possible, sellers should independently verify that payment has cleared in their account before handing over goods.

Residents should also exercise caution when arranging to meet people they have only dealt with online.

Transactions involving unknown individuals should preferably take place at trusted public locations where other people are present. Where appropriate, a police station may be considered as a meeting point instead of an isolated location or private residence.

Police have urged the public not to allow the prospect of a bargain to override common sense. Fraudsters often create a sense of urgency and pressure victims into making immediate payments or disclosing personal and banking information.

Taking a few minutes to verify the seller, the goods and payment details could prevent consumers from becoming victims of fraud.

Warning for northern Tshwane

The SAPS has issued a specific warning about online advertisements in parts of northern Tshwane, including Winterveldt, where goods are sometimes advertised at prices significantly below market value.

Police said that, in some cases, people who respond to these advertisements are allegedly lured to locations and robbed at gunpoint.

Members of the public are therefore urged to avoid suspicious offers and exercise extreme caution when dealing with unknown sellers in these areas.

“If a deal looks too good to be true, stop and verify before you pay,” the SAPS warned.

Residents are encouraged to report suspected fraudulent activities to their nearest police station.

Police also advised victims and members of the public who suspect fraud to preserve relevant information, including advertisements, telephone numbers, messages, banking details and proof of transactions, as these may assist investigators in tracing the perpetrators.

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