LOUIS TRICHARDT – The police issued a warning to all business owners to be on the lookout for credit card syndicates currently operating in the province.

The syndicates order goods from business and then promise to pay with a credit card. They never produce the card itself, but only give the credit card number to the shop owner. Most of the numbers are that of credit cards which are still valid.

The shop owner then debits the account and after being satisfied that the money is transferred to his or her account, delivers the ordered goods to the suspects. It is, however, only after a couple of days that the credit card holder or bank realise that the transaction was fraudulent and the transaction is reversed.

In a recent case in Polokwane, the suspects targeted cellphone shops. Cellphones to the value of R35 334 were lost because of this scam, some of which were delivered to an unknown person in Gauteng.

The Commercial Branch of the SAPS in Polokwane has appealed to all business owners to contact them, should they encounter any similar case. The office can be reached at (015) 290 06777 or 290 6782. Alternatively the commander, Supt Herholdt can be contacted at 082 808 6609 or Insp Moloto at 082 387 9212.