Over the past two months, Verifraud has investigated three cases where elderly women fell victim to banking account scams. The modus operandi involves a caller claiming to be from a bank’s fraud division, alerting the victim that their bank card has been used in a suspicious transaction in a location unfamiliar to them.
The scammer:
1. Contacts the victim between 15:00 and 16:00.
2. Provides personal details, including ID number, cell phone number, and address, to establish credibility.
3. Creates fake SMS messages to support the claim, mentioning transactions at legitimate retailers (e.g., Clicks or Pick n Pay).
4. Instructs the victim to transfer funds to a supposedly secure account, often with a name like “ABSA Fraud Prevention.”
Warning:
Do not engage with suspicious callers. If you receive a call that raises concerns, visit your nearest bank branch to verify the authenticity of the caller and the request.
Precautions:
1. Be cautious of unsolicited calls claiming to be from your bank.
2. Never provide sensitive information or transfer funds based on a phone call.
3. Verify the caller’s identity and the legitimacy of the request through official channels.
By being vigilant and taking these precautions, you can protect yourself from falling victim to similar scams.