Police in Nelson Mandela Bay have urged online users to be cautious when buying or selling personal possessions or advertising services on the internet.
According to the police, SAPS in Humewood are investigating two cases in one week in which people have been conned out of thousands of rands.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said that “the recent scam is when the scammers respond to the sale of vehicles or other services advertised on the websites.
“The ‘interested buyer’ will make contact with the seller and arrange to meet at a public venue.
"When the seller meets the buyer, he is usually on foot. He then informs the seller that he doesn’t have the money with him but they have to meet another person who has the money.
“They drive together and meet the person. When in the vehicle the two con men engage in a conversation about diamonds and other precious stones.
"They then coerce the person into buying the precious stones. Large sums of money are withdrawn and fake stones are handed over to the person and the men flee with the money,” Naidu said.
Naidu added that in the first case, the complainant pawned his vehicle and gave them the money and in the second case, the complainant advertised his services on the internet.
The scammers contacted him and showed a keen interest in using him as a service provider.
In the second incident, the suspects accompanied the complainant to the bank and withdrew the money.
“Police are investigating cases of fraud.
The community is warned that buying precious stones is an offence.
“If approached by any person with such an offer, the police must be contacted.”
