Cons swapping curses for cash
2006-11-01 19:35
Johannesburg - Tricksters are using people's belief in witchcraft to rob them off their possessions in central Johannesburg, said police on Wednesday.
A black substance is smeared on the arm of a victim by a passer-by and a "good Samaritan" then approaches them telling them they have been cursed.
Inspector Wendy Botha said: "The person who approaches the victim is usually a woman. She then offers to take them to them to someone to dispel the curse."
The victim is taken to a man who tells them to take out all their valuables and place them in a basket or an envelope.
Wanting to ward off bad fortune brought on by the curse, the victim complies.
He prays for the person in an effort to take away the "curse".
The victim is then handed the envelope, supposedly containing their possessions, and told they should only open it when they return home.
The rolled-banknotes scam
On opening the envelope, the victim finds it is filled with newspaper.
"These people are playing on the cultural and superstitious beliefs of others to commit crime," said Botha.
Criminals are also using greed to their advantage.
Police warn that a roll of money is thrown on the ground. The roll is nothing but newspaper with one genuine banknote on the outside.
When a victim picks up the money, he or she is approached by a woman who suggests sharing the cash instead of taking it to police.
She lures the victims to a quiet place where they are robbed by about four or five men.
Botha said numerous cases involving this modus operandi had been reported at Johannesburg central police station.
- SAPA