First they steal your name, then your cash

By Clayton Barnes at www.iol.co.za

Identity theft is skyrocketing across the country with at least 50 South Africans being targeted by fraudsters every day.

And experts warn the phenomenon is not only on an upward trend in South Africa, but internationally.

The manager of the Consumer Profile Bureau, Fred Steffers, said that over the past five years identity theft and fraud had become a “great concern” across the world.

“Identity theft, one of the easiest crimes to perpetrate, is escalating internationally. It costs the South African government over R1-billion a year.”

In identity theft a criminal obtains personal information to steal money from bank accounts, open new credit accounts, apply for loans, rent property and commit other crimes.

These acts can damage the victims’ credit, leave them with unwanted bills and cause countless hours of frustration in having their names cleared.

Steffers said the sad reality of identity theft was that people often only discovered their identity had been stolen four to eight months afterwards.

“Only when people are contacted by credit granters or businesses warning them their accounts are in arrears do they realise they have fallen victim to identity theft.

“This is usually months after their identity was stolen. At that point the fraudster has long disappeared after applying for credit at clothing shops, for loans or to commit other crimes.”

Steffers said in some cases all the fraudster needed was your ID number, name and address to commit fraud. “People must keep track of their credit records and not give their personal details to anyone over the phone or internet. Check your monthly statements and inquire if anything looks suspicious.”

Cellphone service provider MTN recently sent its customers SMSes warning them not to disclose personal details in reply to calls from people claiming they had won a VW Polo in an MTN competition.

MTN’s senior communications manager, Ntombi Mhangwani, said the fraudsters would tell people they had won a car, then call them again and ask for details such as ID numbers, bank details and telephone numbers.

“Customers would then get a follow-up call from the fraudster saying they are finalising the prize, but before delivery they need the client to deposit R800 for the car’s registration into a certain account. After the person deposits the money they disappear.”

Mhangwani said none of MTN’s clients had been defrauded but its customer service centre had received numerous calls from clients who had been targeted.

“If you have won a prize with MTN we will call you and ask you to come in and collect it; we won’t request any information over the telephone.”

Anyone targeted should call the MTN fraud line on 083 123 STOP (7867).

Police spokesperson Superintendent Andre Traut said police were concerned about the sudden increase in identity theft. He encouraged people to inform the police if targeted.

“People should terminate calls immediately when callers try to solicit information from them over the phone.

“We have also heard about the maid scam in the southern suburbs, where people call the home owner and tell them their maid has died and they now need money for the funeral.

“Don’t deposit any money into anyone’s account until you have gone to the maid’s house or can verify she has died.”

A recent victim of the scam, Jonathan Bailey of Newlands, Cape Town, received a call from a man claiming to be his domestic worker’s brother, saying she had died.

The man called again wanting R4 000 for funeral expenses, but by this time Bailey was suspicious. He investigated and found the maid was alive.

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