Two men are expected to appear in court soon after being linked to alleged online marketplace fraud in Observatory in Cape Town.
The men were arrested at the Riverlands Mall on Monday.
The Western Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Andrè Traut, said the men were arrested by members of the Drone Unit who responded to information about a possible fraud incident at the mall, where they engaged with security personnel and the alleged victim.
“The complainant explained that he had advertised a camera for sale on Facebook Marketplace and had arranged to hand it over to prospective buyers after receiving notification of an immediate payment of R29,000. However, the money did not reflect in his bank account, raising suspicions that the payment was fraudulent,” Traut said.
The men were taken to the Woodstock police station for profiling while the complainant opened a case of attempted fraud.
Linked to other cases
Police said further checks linked both men to an existing fraud case registered at Milnerton SAPS.
“Information obtained during the investigation also linked the suspects to other alleged incidents in which three previous victims had reportedly been scammed. Both suspects were subsequently arrested and detained at Woodstock SAPS on charges of fraud. Two cellphones were also confiscated as part of the investigation,” Traut said.
Police commended the co-operation between its members and private security personnel, which contributed to the swift response to the incident.
Members of the public are urged to be vigilant when buying and selling goods online.
“Scammers often use fake proof of payment and fraudulent instant payment notifications to deceive unsuspecting victims. A payment notification, screenshot, or proof of payment is not confirmation that money has been received. Sellers are urged to independently verify that funds reflect in their bank accounts before handing over goods, regardless of how convincing the buyer’s proof of payment may appear,” Traut said.
People are further encouraged to keep records of online transactions, including messages, contact details and proof of communication, and to report suspected fraud to their nearest police station.
“Buyers and sellers should exercise caution when dealing with unknown individuals and avoid allowing pressure or urgency to influence their decisions,” Traut said.
IOL