JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – The half-price scam is the oldest trick in the book, yet vulnerable shoppers are falling victim to this sneaky criminal tactic.
A woman from the South fell victim to these scammers when she went to buy a microwave oven at Game stores, Southgate Mall on April 10.
According to a police statement made by the alleged victim at Mondeor SAPS, she was approached by a suspect who was talking in English and was wearing a Game uniform and asked her if she wanted to buy a microwave.
The suspect then told her that she must check at Cash Crusaders as they are cheap and he would go out as if he is going to the toilet and then take her to Cash Crusaders.
The suspect came with another man who allegedly was also interested in purchasing the microwave. The victim alleged that she was robbed of R1500, a cellphone and bank cards by both suspects outside the mall.
Mondeor SAPS Communications Officer Constable Mnguni said: “A case of armed robbery was opened and the investigating officer followed up on the incident.”
Southgate Management said in a statement: “According to the thorough perusal of the video at all angles as the woman in question was roaming the mall, we discovered that her statement that she robbed at gunpoint at Southgate Mall is fabricated and false.
“We believe the woman was a victim of a ‘Half-Price Scam’, where she trusted random strangers who approached and informed her that she can get what she wanted at a lower price from another store, and that’s how she was manipulated and robbed of her money. We encourage our shoppers to be alert to such scams as these activities are prevalent in many shopping centres across the nation.”
Mondeor SAPS investigating officer verified Southgate Mall’s allegations as fact.
