WARNING: Woman fraudster impersonating a police officer
This fraudulent activity involves a woman fraudster who usually preys on the elderly, some of whom have lost large sums of money.
Constable Amanda Ngwenya, of the Pinetown SAPS detective unit: economic crimes group, said this suspect seems to be thorough when gathering information on the targets. She visits them and details police investigations which require the unknowing victims to hand over their belongings such as bank cards and Pins, as well as cellphones and other access Pins, for example, online banking details.
Ngwenya said that once the fraud has been committed, it is difficult to trace and arrest the suspect because they use the victim's details, and the suspect does not leave any digital footprint.
The police are yet to determine how the suspect convincingly identifies as a police officer.
'This person, we do not know whether they are a police officer or someone who is impersonating a police officer,' said Ngwenya.
Also read: WATCH: Cops caution on rocketing cases of fraud on Facebook
The communications officer of the SAPS in Pinetown, Jennifer Naidu, said the police are investigating a series of incidents involving this woman suspect, described as being of mixed race.
'She may appear either Indian or coloured, but she has been posing as a police officer or financial representative. She has approached elderly residents at their homes, convincing them to hand over cellphones, bank cards, and personal information, which has led to substantial financial losses. Let's be clear, this is one individual carrying out these scams. She is using deceit and the appearance of authority to gain trust. Depending on her clothing and presentation, some describe her as Indian, while others believe she may be of uncertain descent, with features that could be perceived as either Indian or of mixed descent. This confusion in her appearance is part of what makes her harder to identify,' said Naidu.
Naidu stressed that the SAPS urged residents not to lose trust in legitimate police officers, but rather to use caution in suspicious situations.
'If someone claiming to be a police officer comes to your home and asks for your phone, bank card, or Pins, you have every right to say, 'I'll go to the station myself.' It's always better to be safe than sorry,' said Naidu.
Also read: 'She said she was a cop' – Pinetown pensioners scammed out of half a million rand
Naidu said in addition to these impersonation scams, Pinetown SAPS have also seen a rise in mobile-related fraud, including phone hacking where victims' phones are accessed remotely, leading to identity theft and unauthorised transactions; fake competitions and give-aways where scammers lure people in via SMS or messaging apps, telling them they've won prize. These first require a deposit or delivery fee, but once the victims have paid, they never receive the promised items.
Naidu also warned that once hacked, fraudsters use the victim's contact list on the phone to defraud people.
'Rather than making phone calls, these criminals are now sending WhatsApp and Telegram messages on your behalf, using your photos to make it appear as though they are you. They claim you've changed numbers or need urgent help, tricking your friends and family into sharing sensitive information or making payments. If you receive messages like this, be cautious and confirm directly with the person you supposedly are communicating with.
'These scams are becoming more sophisticated. We're sharing this detailed report not to alarm you, but to ensure you take this seriously and protect yourself and your loved ones.
'If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Report it to your police station on 082 557 8282 or call Radio Control Room on 10111 or call Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Your report could prevent someone else from being targeted. Let's stay alert, speak up, and work together to keep Pinetown safe. Our whole team, who are handling these fraud cases, has come together because we care about our community and cannot stand by while these criminals continue to harm you. We need your help. If you notice anything suspicious, no matter how minor it may seem, report it. No one has the right to steal from you, and every report, big or small, gives us a clearer picture of what's happening. Reporting helps us build the true reflection of crime in our area, and that's how we will catch these criminals,' said Naidu.
For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Click to subscribe to our newsletter here
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
23 minutes ago
- eNCA
10 police officers in court on charges of theft, corruption
JOHANNESBURG - Ten officers from SAPS and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police are expected to appear in the Germiston Magistrate's Court this morning. They were arrested on Monday on charges of theft and corruption, linked to a June law enforcement raid in Edenvale. It's alleged the officers ransacked a store during the operation, stealing R35,000 in cash and cigarettes worth R150,000.
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Online dating site serial rapist and murderer arrested in Limpopo
The suspect was linked to over ten cases of rape and murder. A 37-year-old online dating serial rapist and killer who has been terrorising a community in Gauteng has been arrested, Limpopo police said. The suspect was handcuffed during a joint operation by the Limpopo Tracking Team, Limpopo Provincial Investigation Unit, Silverton Detectives and Tshwane District Detectives conducted between the evening of Sunday and early hours of Monday at Mentz village, under the Mankweng Policing area, in Limpopo. Tinder swindler Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the suspect was using a popular dating site to lure his female victims. 'According to information, the suspect utilized a 'Tinder' dating site to lure his victims to his residence in Eesterust, Pretoria, Gauteng province. He allegedly raped some of his victims, until the recent incident wherein he raped and killed the victim, thereafter buried her in a shallow grave in his residence.' Ledwaba said the matter was brought to the police's attention and 'massive investigations were conducted.' 'A thorough investigation was conducted, resulting in the arrest of the suspect at his hiding place, in Mentz village, Mankweng Policing area, Limpopo province. He was linked with over ten cases of rape and murder.' ALSO READ: Man arrested for using fake Facebook profile to lure, kidnap, and rape women Warning The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has cautioned the community members, especially women, to be very careful when using dating sites, because they might fall victim to crime. 'As we celebrate women's month, let's be cautious at all times, and we should mind who we associate ourselves with. 'Report any suspicious movements or abuse to the police, always share your location with your family and avoid meeting strangers at private spaces,' said Hadebe. Investigations Ledwaba said the suspect is expected to appear before the Pretoria Central Magistrate's Court, facing several cases of rape, murder and defeating the ends of justice. Police have urged people who were victimised by Tinder suspects or other suspects to report to their local police stations to assist officers with ongoing investigations. ALSO READ: Parents warned against posting photos of kids online amid kidnapping concerns
Daily Maverick
9 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
The price of going viral – when political activism becomes very expensive
In an age where a single WhatsApp message can mobilise protesters and a Facebook post can shape public opinion about workplace disputes, the traditional boundaries between political activism and trade union representation are blurring in ways that would have been unimaginable a generation ago. The recent labour court judgment in Boomerang Fruits (Pty) Ltd v Umkhonto weSizwe and Others offers a stark reminder that these boundaries exist for good reasons and that crossing them can have serious legal consequences – particularly when amplified through digital platforms that can transform minor workplace grievances into viral political campaigns. From payroll error to digital political theatre The case began with a seemingly mundane payroll error. Agricultural workers at a fruit farm in Elgin in the Western Cape were underpaid overtime wages ranging from R120 to R176 per person – hardly the stuff of revolutionary politics. Yet within days, this minor administrative mistake had escalated into a full-blown industrial dispute involving police escorts, highway blockades, criminal charges and a sophisticated digital media campaign that branded the employer across multiple online platforms as racist and colonial. The transformation was breathtakingly swift. What might once have taken weeks of careful union organisation now unfolded in real time across social media networks. The Umkhonto weSizwe party (MK) didn't simply insert itself into the dispute – it digitally amplified it, using Facebook posts, press releases and WhatsApp groups to craft a narrative that reached far beyond the farm gates of the Western Cape. The digital disruption of industrial relations The involvement of the MK party demonstrates how political parties have learned to exploit the digital revolution in ways that fundamentally challenge traditional industrial relations. When employees contacted the party for assistance, the MK party didn't simply offer advice or direct workers to appropriate legal channels. Instead, it created a parallel digital infrastructure that bypassed established negotiation mechanisms entirely. The party's WhatsApp communications coordinated meetings with management, its Facebook posts generated public sympathy for workers, and its press releases shaped media coverage – all while maintaining the pretence of merely providing 'advisory' support. This digital orchestration allowed the MK party to function as a shadow trade union while avoiding the legal responsibilities that formal representation would entail. Judge Robert Lagrange's judgment methodically dissected this digital strategy, concluding that the MK party had 'consistently assumed the role of the representative of the strikers' while simultaneously 'launching a media attack on Boomerang, portraying it in villainous terms'. The court recognised that in the digital age, representation isn't just about formal negotiations – it's about controlling the narrative that shapes public perception and influences the balance of power. The legal principle at stake is both simple and profound, but its application has become infinitely more complex in the digital era. South Africa's industrial relations system was designed for an analogue world where disputes unfolded in board rooms and on factory floors, not on social media platforms where every statement can be screenshot, shared and weaponised. The social media amplification effect The court's analysis of the MK party's digital campaign reveals how social media has fundamentally altered the dynamics of labour disputes. Traditional negotiation assumes a degree of privacy that allows parties to make concessions without losing face publicly. Digital platforms destroy this privacy, creating performative pressures that make compromise virtually impossible. The MK party's Facebook posts describing the company as a 'colonial nest' and 'active site of colonial exploitation' weren't just political rhetoric – they were strategic digital content designed to generate shares, comments and viral engagement. The party understood that in the attention economy, inflammatory language performs better than nuanced analysis. The result was a digital firestorm that bore little resemblance to the original overtime payment dispute. WhatsApp democracy and workplace organising Perhaps most significantly, the case highlights how WhatsApp has become a significant organising tool for both legitimate trade union activity and political interference. The MK party's use of WhatsApp groups to coordinate with workers, arrange meetings and distribute talking points created an informal, but highly effective communication network that traditional employers and unions struggle to understand or counter. This 'WhatsApp democracy' operates outside formal industrial relations structures, creating new possibilities for worker organisation, but also new vulnerabilities to political manipulation. The platform's end-to-end encryption makes it nearly impossible for employers to understand how disputes are being coordinated, while its group messaging functionality allows political parties to influence large numbers of workers simultaneously. The judgment also reveals how digital platforms have created expectations of real-time transparency that clash with the traditionally private nature of labour negotiations. The MK party's social media strategy assumed that followers expected constant updates, behind-the-scenes content and immediate responses to developments. This digital transparency imperative makes the patient, confidential work of genuine dispute resolution nearly impossible. When every negotiation session can be livestreamed, every concession can be immediately scrutinised by online audiences, and every statement can be taken out of context and shared widely, the incentives shift dramatically towards performative confrontation rather than problem-solving. Political parties, with their natural understanding of digital engagement, are far better positioned to exploit these dynamics than traditional trade unions or employers. Digital accountability and legal consequences Judge Lagrange's decision to confirm the interdict against the MK party represents one of the first serious judicial attempts to grapple with how digital platforms are reshaping labour relations. The court recognised that social media posts and WhatsApp messages aren't just commentary – they constitute active participation in labour disputes with real legal consequences. The costs order against the MK party is particularly significant in the digital context. By requiring the party to pay the employer's legal costs, the court has established that viral social media campaigns carry financial risks. This digital accountability principle could fundamentally alter how political parties approach online labour activism. The broader implications extend far beyond this single case. Digital platforms don't just amplify existing power dynamics – they create entirely new ones. Political parties that master social media engagement can mobilise workers more effectively than traditional trade unions, but they lack the institutional knowledge and legal obligations that make genuine representation possible. The result is what might be called 'algorithm activism' – political engagement optimised for digital metrics rather than real-world outcomes. The MK party's campaign generated thousands of shares and comments, but it ultimately prolonged the dispute and harmed the workers it claimed to represent. The digital medium had become the message, drowning out the substance of legitimate workplace grievances. Towards digital industrial relations As South Africa grapples with persistent inequality and workplace exploitation, the intersection of digital technology and labour relations will only become more complex. The Boomerang Fruits case provides a crucial precedent for how courts might approach political parties that use social media to blur the lines between advocacy and representation. The challenge ahead is developing industrial relations frameworks that can harness the democratising potential of digital platforms while preventing their exploitation by political opportunists. This will require new forms of digital literacy among trade unionists, employers and judges, as well as clearer legal guidelines about what constitutes impermissible political interference in the social media age. The labour court's firm stance in this case demonstrates that legal principles can adapt to technological change, but only if we remain vigilant about protecting the institutional boundaries that make effective labour relations possible.
