Westville SAPS warn of conwoman who’s stealing from SA’s elderly
Beware! There’s a fake ‘detective’ on the loose who’s conning the elderly out of hundreds of thousands!
Just when you thought scammers couldn’t stoop any lower, along comes someone dressed like the law but acting like the flaw in the system.
The Westville South African Police Service (SAPS) have issued an urgent warning to the public (especially elderly residents) to be on high alert after a woman posing as a detective has scammed victims out of thousands of rands.
In one heartbreaking case, she scammed an unsuspecting elderly couple out of half a million rand.
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The woman, calling herself Detective Mudalay, has been masquerading as a police investigator involved in “bank card cloning” cases.
However, instead of cracking the case, she’s cracking open people’s bank accounts.
According to a recent Highway Mail report, the imposter has been targeting vulnerable elderly residents by showing up in fake police attire.
She gains their trust with her polished act and kind demeanour, convinces them that their bank cards have been cloned, and offers to “help” by collecting their cards, cellphones, and even PINs.
One of the most alarming cases involved a 93-year-old Westville man who was almost wiped clean.
Thankfully, he was saved just in time when a friend noticed something fishy and contacted the bank to block the account.
Another devastating incident involved an elderly Pinetown couple, Donald Bristol (87) and his wife, who were tricked into handing over their bank cards and phone.
Within a week, their account was drained of R500,000 - all gone in shopping sprees by the woman who came smiling in the name of the law.
Captain Elizabeth Squires of the Westville SAPS confirmed that both fraud and theft cases have been opened, and the woman is actively being sought.
“She approaches the elderly with kindness, pretends to be from SAPS working with the banks, and insists she’s saving them a trip by coming to their homes,” says Squires.
ALSO READ: New SAPS scam: Don’t fall for this!
Here’s how you can protect yourself and your loved ones:
- Verify first: Call your local police station directly if anyone shows up claiming to be law enforcement.
- Never hand over cards or PINs: No legitimate officer or bank representitive will ever ask for these.
- Educate the elderly: Talk to parents, grandparents, and neighbours about this scam.
- Report suspicious activity: If someone calling themselves Detective Mudalay reaches out, contact SAPS immediately.
Stay sharp, South Africa. Just because someone wears a cap doesn’t mean they’re wearing a badge of honour.
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