By BAKANG MOKOTO

The police in North West said they are concerned about widespread cases of fraud in the province. North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said taking into consideration the approaching of the festive season which is normally characterized by criminality, it is vital that consumers and the general public exercise caution to safeguard themselves and their property including their hard-earned cash.

“The currently identified hotspots include Rustenburg, Wolmaranstad, Jouberton, Klerksdorp, Hartbeespoortdam and Brits among others. Types of fraud committed include card cloning, online, petrol card, and asset-based or vehicle sales.

“Regarding asset-based fraud, fraudsters physically visit car dealerships with fraudulent documents, then make applications for purchase. The dealers will only become aware of the fraud after collection of the cars. With online or social media, especially Facebook, swindlers would advertise and display vehicles that are for sale,” he said.

He further said upon response, unsuspecting victims would be lured to secluded places and eventually robbed of their cash and other personal belongings. Mokgwabone added that, in some instances, suspects use social media to advertise various products.

“victims would then be given account numbers to make payments, but no deliveries will be made. The victims will realise upon following up that they were conned. Therefore, members of the community are urged to be wary, if they lose their Identity Documents (IDs).

“They must report to their nearest police station and ensure the company they are dealing with is legitimate. They should also avoid isolated ATMs and use them late at night. They should never accept help from strangers when using ATMs,” he said.

Mokgwabone said when they receive suspicious emails or SMS with links, they should not click on them as they will be redirected to malicious portals that will harvest their information. He urges community members to never leave their mobile phones unattended in social gatherings, as this will cause fraudsters to easily lock them out of their social media accounts (Facebook/WhatsApp) by using OTP sent to their phones.

“They should never share their personal life on social media as fraudsters use available platforms to approach unsuspecting victims online. If they are victims of social media crime, they should always keep screenshots of the profile of the suspect as well as screenshots of how their conversations started and ended, as this will assist Cyber Crime investigators in gathering evidence.

“They should also avoid sharing intimate pictures with strangers on social media as this will lead to cyber extortion and cyberbullying. In business transactions, community members should not pay money into accounts that are received via email changing known account numbers to new ones without verifying with the company you are doing business with,” said Mokgwabone.

He said in cryptocurrency, community members should never allow anyone to trade on their behalf as this platform (BITCOIN), does not require third parties to trade on your behalf, as you will lose a lot of money that may never be recovered.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The bogus attorney, Tebogo George Letloleng (42) will briefly appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court on 5 October 2023 for a formal bail application. This comes after Letloleng’s arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for fraud and theft worth approximately R218 100.

The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Warrant Officer Amogelang Malwetse said the alleged commission of crime took place between July 2020 and December 2022 in Taung.

“It is alleged that Letloleng has been masquerading as a qualified, admitted, and enrolled legal practitioner, wherein he would approach accused persons and their families waiting to appear before court and convince them that, he could represent them in court for various criminal and civil cases at a fee.

“The said consultations were allegedly conducted in the court building and at his residential place. However, he failed to act as promised thus making his clients question his credibility,” she said.

Malwetse further said the meticulous investigation by the SCCI, revealed that Letloleng made several appearances in court, wherein he allegedly introduced himself on record to presiding officers as the appointed attorney.

She added that, moreover, his qualifications were verified, and found that he did not meet the requirements to be admitted and enrolled as a legal practitioner in terms of Section 26 (1) of the Legal Practice Act, Act 28 of 2014.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said Letloleng will make a formal bail application.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho lauded the efforts of the team for their persistence in ensuring the arrest of the suspect.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A 27-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to 18 years by Kuruman Regional Court for raping a girl (16). On 27 February 2021, the victim was walking with her boyfriend when they were approached by an unknown person asking for matches.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said when they could not give him matches, he decided to pelt the pair with stones. Sam said the couple ran away in different directions and the accused chased the victim.

“He caught her up and dragged her to the nearby veld, where he raped her,” he said.

The Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, lauded Detective Sergeant Jasmine Armstrong from the Kuruman FCS Unit for her dedication, hard work, and sterling investigation that ensured justice for Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBV&F) victims.

Otola said that GBV is a sign of disrespect to human dignity.

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