Card fraud rising
STORY: Connie Williamson / Rachelle Breed
A new card cloning scheme involving gift cards camouflaged as debit and credit cards has surfaced in Zululand. Recently Richards Bay SAPS detectives arrested three card fraudsters and recovered several fraudulent gift cards. Richards Bay SAPS spokesperson, Captain Debbie Ferreira, said the fraudsters take information from stolen debit and credit cards and transfer them onto gift cards. They then work with tellers to commit crimes at various stores by purchasing goods with these fraudulent cards. ‘In addition they can use the cards at ATMs to withdraw cash. ‘Retail stores must be on the lookout for this modus operandi and inform the tellers as well as managers,’ she said. If a gift card has numerous swipe or scratches on it, then one should be suspicious as it could be disguised as a fraudulent debit or credit card. Often the fraudsters shave off all the information from the card leaving it completely blank and stores should not accept these cards. Other fraud scams on the rise include using fake identity documents to open furniture and clothing accounts, as well as to apply for short-term finance and loans.
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