Africa-Press – South-Africa. Western Cape police are cautioning members of the public to be extra vigilant when meeting people interested in buying items advertised online.
They said they had noticed an increase in reported cases where people using online platforms to advertise their goods had fallen victim to robberies.
Police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut said members of the public were being lured by criminals, acting as buyers, to make a delivery in certain areas.
“Police are concerned about the number of cases reported where people who have used online platforms to advertise their goods fall victim to robberies or more serious crime after being lured by criminals acting as buyers to make a delivery in certain areas,” he said.
According to Traut, their analysis of crime trends had initially pointed them to Browns Farm in Nyanga, where this modus operandi had been prevalent, with several serious cases and a murder being recorded since last year.
In September last year, the 51-year-old Ben Tuzee, co-owner of Dixies Restaurant in Simon’s Town, was stabbed multiple times during a hijacking in Nyanga.
He was lured to Nyanga for a private TV sale which he had advertised on the popular Facebook Market.
At the time, police said it was “not an isolated incident”.
Three males – two of them teenagers – were arrested in Browns Farm in connection with the murder.
Now, police are warning potential online buyers to be vigilant when meeting up with online sellers.
“We have reason to believe that other areas such as the West Coast and the Winelands are also affected,” Traut said.
He cautioned that it was not safe to venture into an unfamiliar area to make a delivery or meet a potential buyer.
“It is advised to rather arrange a meeting with a potential buyer at a public place at a time when people are around, or even in front of a police station.”
Traut added that, if the caller had an ulterior motive, they would in all probability make an alternative suggestion, which should raise a red flag.
“With this warning, SAPS by no means discourage people to make use of online advertising platforms, but to exercise caution when doing so, to prevent becoming a criminal’s next victim.”
FacebookSA has been approached for comment, and it will be added once received.
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