Online Scams on the Rise
Phokeng SAPS Sounds the Alarm

Rustenburg/ Phokeng – The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Phokeng is urging community members to be extra cautious when buying goods or services online. The warning comes after a surge in online fraud cases, where residents have fallen victim to criminals posing as legitimate sellers.

Sergeant Ofentse Mokgadi explained that fraudsters are using fake websites, social media ads, and false payment confirmations to deceive unsuspecting buyers.

In one case from Luka Village, a resident paid over R3,700 for “stop nonsense” wall slabs — but the goods never arrived. In another incident, a victim lost R1,500 trying to buy an SUV air conditioner, only to receive a fake tracking number. Even police officers, Mokgadi added, are not immune to these scams.

SAPS has shared several safety tips to help the public stay safe online: always buy from trusted websites, verify sellers, look for secure web addresses (“https”), and never share personal information with unknown sources.

Anyone who suspects fraud is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111, use the MySAPS App, or visit their nearest police station.