Police warn of scam attacking businesses

A new scam could result in people losing thousands from their bank accounts, Gauteng police warned on Saturday.

Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said the scam was targeted at businesses and in a recent incident, a businesswoman was conned out of R2 000.

"A person posing as a client called a woman who owned a catering company and requested a quotation. The caterer said she would charge R20 000 for the event," said Makhubela.

She reportedly asked for an upfront deposit of R10 000 but the 'client' deposited R14 000 instead.

"The client then called the woman, saying he needed her to deposit R2 000 back to him using the Shoprite Cash Send service."

It's alleged the woman sent the R2 000 back to the man, but hours later she received a message from the bank saying the R14 000 she had received earlier had been reversed.

She was no longer able to trace the man after the transaction.

"It's not the first time an incident like this has happened. Police are still trying to trace the culprit. But we are warning the public of this," Makhubela said.