By Buziwe Nocuze
Police are warning people about a rise in online shopping scams in which buyers get robbed.
Captain Granville Meyer from the Philippi East SAPS said sellers arrange to meet buyers. At the meeting place, a man takes the buyer to a quiet spot where armed men then rob them.
“The robbers force the victim to transfer money through their banking app before running away,” said Meyer.
“Sometimes, they also steal the victim’s car. We strongly warn people to avoid looking for bargains on social media. Use well-known companies or apps and be careful.”
Ziyanda Mbusi, a Philippi resident, is surprised people still fall for dodgy online deals despite warnings.
“SAPS has warned us for years, but people keep going to dangerous areas. There’s nothing more SAPS can do if people don’t listen,” she said.
Mbusi was shocked to hear about people being robbed in Philippi and Crossroads after going there to buy items like drones and boats.
“We need to stop expecting cheap deals. It’s safer to shop in town where these incidents are less frequent,” she said.
Pictured above: Philippi East police are warning the public of online scams where victims are lured to quiet places and robbed.
Source: Buziwe Nocuze
