Cape Town - Four people have been arrested in Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal, for trying to upgrade cellphone contracts with fake Rica documents, police said on Saturday.
The four had allegedly been using fake documents, including bogus IDs with different photos, to upgrade to the latest devices at cellphone companies in Glencoe, Dundee, Newcastle and Ladysmith, Captain Nqobile Gwala said.
They will be charged with forgery and making false documents and presenting them as the real thing.
In terms of South African law, cellphone numbers can only be issued upon presentation of an ID and proof of residence. These details are registered with the number in line with the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Amendment Act.
The act was introduced to enable authorities to intercept and monitor as part of efforts to combat crime. It is usually not possible to get a contract or a device, or buy a SIM card without being ''Rica-ed".
Gwala said police would profile the group, all from Johannesburg, to see if they can be linked to other cases.
