Many fraud cases are perpetrated via the internet. Graphic: Antifraudnews.com

Table View police warn that a significant percentage of fraud cases reported to them were perpetrated via the internet.

Advance fee fraud
The spokesperson for Table View police Captain Adriana Chandler says that “54% of these cases involved property to rent or for sale. A deposit is required by the suspect before physically viewing the property.  The victim will deposit the money and then realise that the property was never for sale or to let. In more than one case the suspect indicated that he/she was abroad, which means there is no description of the suspect.”

Items for sale
People who offer items for sale on the internet have also run foul of the fraudsters, Chandler warns. In a few cases where items were advertised for sale on the internet the buyers sent someone in their place to collect the items, then called the sellers to say that the money was being deposited.  The collector then left with the item. The victims only discovered that the money had not been deposited into their accounts when they checked their bank statements. Here again the criminals could not be traced because of private number settings.

Chandler urges people not to make deposits before physically viewing the item they want to purchase or the property that is for sale or to let.  “When advertising items on the internet, rather clearly state that you prefer cash on delivery.”