Discount-price scammers target shoppers

Ga-Rankuwa City shopping complex security has warned shoppers to be wary of a scam that has targeted vulnerable women at the shopping centre recently. The half-price/discount scam is the oldest trick in the book, yet vulnerable shoppers are falling victim to this sneaky criminal tactic. The modus operandi is to approach and inform shoppers that they can get them what they want at a lower price from various stores. Victims get manipulated and get robbed of their belongings.

Ga-Rankuwa City shopping complex

Head of Security at the complex Frans Maloka said they are aware of people who were conducting scams inside the mall. “Sometimes shoppers do not tell the whole story of what had happened to them. And that ends up shattering our name 

because it was reported by other newspapers that people are being robbed at the complex’s toilets which is not true.”

They hide the fact that they were scammed by people who posed as people who are able to get them discount on certain products. Each day we check our daily occurrence book where we check all the happenings and there has not been incidents reported of toilet robberies. We encourage our shoppers to be alert to such scams as these activities are prevalent in many shopping centres across the nation,” said Maloka.

Captain Matthews Nkoadi of Ga-Rankuwa SAPS verified the shopping centre’s allegations as fact. He said: “The police have noted with great concern that there are suspects who are terrorising unsuspecting victims at the Ga-Rankuwa shopping centre. This has been happening for the past few weeks and members of the public are warned to be vigilant at all times.”