Police in the Northern Cape have urged residents to be cautious when making purchases on social media. 

Police in Kimberley have received a rise in reports of a new online scam, particularly targeting residents in the area. 

The provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers, said numerous complaints have been received by investigators, prompting the registration of fraud cases. 

“The scam involves the advertisement of furniture for sale on social media platforms, notably Facebook Marketplace. Unsuspecting victims are lured into paying deposits for the advertised furniture. However, once payment is made, the collection address provided turns out to be fake. The SAPS strongly advises members of the public to exercise extreme caution when purchasing goods online,” Ehlers said. 

Police are urging those who purchase goods online to always verify the legitimacy of the seller and the platform before making any payment. 

Anyone with information regarding this scam is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Tapsey Matebesi at 072 781 9152.

Suspicious activities can also be reported via the MySAPS App or by calling Crime Stop at 08600 10111. 

In cases of extortion, contact the National Hotline at 0800 911 011.

robin.francke@iol.co.za

IOL

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