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F State cops warn of ATM scam
17/10/2007 17:39 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Free State police have warned residents of Bothaville, near Kroonstad, of a group of conmen duping people out of their money at automated teller machines.
Police spokesperson Batlile Makole said on Wednesday that the group approached people at ATMs with a plastic bag containing R20 and R100 notes, which they offered to share with their victims if they followed them to a certain location.
Men claiming to be police detectives then show up at the ATM. They tell the victims they saw them, as well as the people carrying money in the plastic bag, on CCTV cameras.
"These fake policemen then order the ones who had been carrying the bag to have their fingerprints taken at parked vehicle nearby.
"Before they go, they are ordered to leave their cellphones and wallets with the victims."
When the last conman comes back from this process, the fake police detectives instruct the victims to do the same and leave their belongings including their bank cards.
When the victims arrive at the place where the finger prints are supposed to be taken, the "police vehicle" is not found.
"When the victims return, the group including the fake policemen are nowhere to be found. When the victim goes to the bank they find that their money has been withdrawn from their accounts," said Makole.
- SAPA
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