KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Police want to make the community aware of different scams that usually increase during the festive season period.

These fraudulent crimes increase due to the fact that victims are more relaxed, more prone to spend more money, more likely to receive a bonus. They often spend time in new or unfamiliar places where they won’t spot anything out of the ordinary.

The most common types of fraud include internet fraud, ATM scams, bank card cloning and 'skimming'. Cash loans through the internet are also included. The community must consider all the possibilities of fraud before any financial expenses are made.

Skimming
The perpetrators usually visits ATMs and approach the customer while transacting to distract the person’s attention. They offer assistance and get hold of the customer’s card for a second in order to swipe it through a 'skimming' device. Information on the card are then being swapped onto another card. The pin is usually observed by looking over your shoulder. These fraudsters would then be able to duplicate the card and access the account. They do transactions and withdraw funds as quickly as possible at different places.
It is therefore important to take note of the following tips:

• Always be vigilant, no matter where you are.
• Always cover your one hand with the other while keying in the pin number.
• Stand close to the ATM and use your body as a shield and extra security.
• Do not accept assistance, guidance or allow anyone to interfere with your transaction.
• Be observant of your surroundings when transacting at the ATM.
• Use ATMs in secured areas and not in secluded areas or late at night.
• Report any suspicious activity at the ATM to your bank.

Transactions
When using your card for transactions at a till, restaurant, bar, retail store, filling station, tollgate, busy entertainment area and all other areas where no CCTV video is available and crimes are difficult to monitor:

• Don’t lose sight of your card.
• Make sure that your card is only swiped once.
• Don’t be distracted, intimidated or rushed into your transactions.
• Never give out your banking information.
• Treat your card as you would cash.
• Don’t give anyone your secret pin number.
• Don’t respond to emails you are not familiar with.
• Don’t let friends or family use your cards.

Personal loans
A loan scam trend has been reported. Consumers are offered personal loans via email or SMS. Once the victim contacts the scammers, they are requested to provide personal information and deposit various amounts of money into private bank accounts. This continues with repeated requests for an advanced fee payable and the victim never receives the loan funds. Should you receive a suspicious email offering a personal loan, you should first check with the company offering the loan to ensure its legitimacy. If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Money transfers
Internet fraud is increasing daily and the fraudsters are stealing from victims in any possible way. Criminals place advertisements for any product imaginable on well-known advertising websites. Often victims fall prey and in most instances the financial loss cannot be recovered.

The following should be carefully consider when departing from your hard-earned cash:

• Never send money to people you haven’t met in person.
• Never send money to pay for taxes or fees on lottery or prize winnings.
• Never provide your banking details to people or businesses you don’t know.
• Never send money in advance to obtain a loan or credit card.
• Never send funds from a cheque in your account until it has been officially cleared – which can take weeks.
• Never send money transfers for online purchases.

It was also recently reported that perpetrators pose as sales people outside clothing stores and offer to assist in purchasing items on a discount price. They operate in pairs and request prospective clients to leave their handbags, cellular phones and groceries at the entrance to the shop. When these clients return to the entrance the second person, who was supposed to guard the items, is missing with all their items. Cases of such theft have been opened.

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