A 25-YEAR-OLD woman single-handedly caught a scammer who transferred R350 out of her account on Friday afternoon, 24 November.
The victim contacted Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) at approximately 3.43pm, requesting assistance on Wick Street in the Verulam CBD in KZN.
Reaction Officers were immediately dispatched and on arrival discovered the woman holding onto the suspect.
"She explained that she left the Department of Labour and was walking to the taxi rank when she was approached by two men. They convinced her that they were employed at a marketing company contracted to two supermarkets," said Rusa.
Rusa said the scammers further informed the woman that their client was giving away discount vouchers to create brand awareness.
"The vouchers would need to be loaded onto her cellphone in order to determine the amount she qualified for. The victim handed over her cellphone but grew suspicious after the second individual continuously distracted her while his accomplice tampered with her Samsung cellphone. At one stage she was asked to verify her fingerprints in order for the voucher to be loaded," said Rusa.
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They said the woman thereafter advised the men that she was no longer interested in the deal and requested that her cellphone be handed back to her.
"The man continued using her phone when she snatched it from him. She discovered that he was on her banking application and called out to the public for assistance. One of the men fled while she held onto his accomplice.
"She then contacted Rusa for assistance. The victim advised Reaction officers that R350 was paid via cash send to a cellphone number. Officers interviewed the suspect who claimed to have a degree in geography and anthropology.
"He could not provide details of his employer or his accomplice. He also did not have a cellphone in his possession. A passerby advised Rusa members that four other individuals fell prey to the same scam in the Verulam CBD in KZN on the same day," he said.
The suspect was handed over to the Verulam SAPS for further investigation.
