Opinion / Columnist
Fraudsters hijacking the element of marketing: Beware of fraudulent adverts
15 Jan 2012 at 08:48hrs | Views
Modern business has been infiltrated by unscrupulous elements purporting to be in genuine business. It is normal marketing strategy for companies or business entities to make known or promote their products by placing advertisements in local newspapers, Internet or any other media to increase their clientele base.
Fraudsters are, however, hijacking this element of marketing to tout for unsuspecting victims to defraud. The majority of people who have become fraud victims, which is from individuals to business entities, were first attracted by an advert in local newspapers and/or Internet. Considering the readership base of the local papers as well as Internet access, many unsuspecting victims will fall prey to fraudulent adverts.
What I want you to understand here is that there is nothing wrong with placing an advert lest you take up arms with the local papers but it's a criminal act for one to flight an advert for the purposes of committing a crime of fraud.
Our records show that a bulk of fraud cases reported involve a fraudulent advert which was used as a bait to attract the victims and subsequently resulted in a fraudulent transaction.
The common talk of victims when interviewed is that, "Ndakaona advert mupepa/Ngabona i advert kuphepandaba." Some even bring with them copies of the fraudulent adverts when they make reports to the police upon realising that they had been duped.
After I have said this, you might be wondering how one can notice a fraudulent advertisement. Indeed it is very difficult to notice a fraudulent advert on the face of it. However, they are some tips I am going to give later which I hope can help you avoid becoming a victim.
Fraudulent adverts are used in so many spheres. For example, fraudulent adverts are used in respect of fraudulent transactions involving residential properties and stands, cars, tenders, mining and agricultural equipment, loans and accommodation, etc.
Now let's look at one scenario involving a fraudulent advertisement:
A fraudster hatches a plan to misrepresent and defraud an unsuspecting victim in need of a vehicle to buy. He flights an advert in the local paper with the heading "Drive your dream car within few weeks".
The advert reflects unbelievable purchase prizes of the various types of vehicles on offer coupled together with very favourable terms of payment. The contact numbers and exact location of the offices are given. The advert also makes indication that customers should hurry for the offer on import cars.
An unsuspecting victim responds to the advert and later visits the fraudster's offices where further misrepresentation is made. S/he is made to enter into an agreement of sale purported to be genuine and is asked to make a deposit for the car.
The victim is assured that he will receive his car within a few weeks and is given the date when the consignment of cars will depart from Japan.
Pursuant to his criminal acts, as the date draws nearer for arrival of car, the fraudster phones the victim and advises him that there were logistical problems and the freight could not depart as scheduled.
In a calculative move, a few days later, the fraudster calls the victim and advises him that his vehicle is now at Durban and that he should pay the outstanding amount which includes duty to be paid in respect of the vehicle at our ports of entry. The victim pays the whole amount quoted at US$6 500 for a Toyota Camry double valve.
The time ticks away and the dream car is not yet received by victim who was advised three months ago that his car was in Durban. The fraudster becomes elusive and later relocates to an unknown place and changes his contact mobile number. The victim realises that he has been duped. You have to realise that it started with a fraudulent advert.
Below are tips that can help you to avoid being a victim of this type of fraud:
Treat each advert with caution until you are satisfied that there are no criminal intentions behind the advert;
Carry out own investigations about the individual or company advertising before you commit yourself to entering into a transaction after seeing an advert;
Commit yourself to a transaction only when it is safe for you to do so;
Bear in mind that the onus is upon you to prove whether the advert is genuine or not, it is not the responsibility of the local papers; and
Check with the police to find out if the company which flighted an advert is not involved in fraudulent business.
Remember you should not be a 2012 fraud victim!
These articles are published in line with the ZRP Theme of year 2012 - "ZRP for Total Peace, Stability and Progress". Keep tuned for more information.
For your comments and assistance with information that can be helpful to CID Serious Fraud Squad, you can contact me on 04-753543/0772 764 043.
Detective Assistant Inspector Tom Muleya works under the Public Relations Department CID Serious Fraud Squad, Harare.
Fraudsters are, however, hijacking this element of marketing to tout for unsuspecting victims to defraud. The majority of people who have become fraud victims, which is from individuals to business entities, were first attracted by an advert in local newspapers and/or Internet. Considering the readership base of the local papers as well as Internet access, many unsuspecting victims will fall prey to fraudulent adverts.
What I want you to understand here is that there is nothing wrong with placing an advert lest you take up arms with the local papers but it's a criminal act for one to flight an advert for the purposes of committing a crime of fraud.
Our records show that a bulk of fraud cases reported involve a fraudulent advert which was used as a bait to attract the victims and subsequently resulted in a fraudulent transaction.
The common talk of victims when interviewed is that, "Ndakaona advert mupepa/Ngabona i advert kuphepandaba." Some even bring with them copies of the fraudulent adverts when they make reports to the police upon realising that they had been duped.
After I have said this, you might be wondering how one can notice a fraudulent advertisement. Indeed it is very difficult to notice a fraudulent advert on the face of it. However, they are some tips I am going to give later which I hope can help you avoid becoming a victim.
Fraudulent adverts are used in so many spheres. For example, fraudulent adverts are used in respect of fraudulent transactions involving residential properties and stands, cars, tenders, mining and agricultural equipment, loans and accommodation, etc.
Now let's look at one scenario involving a fraudulent advertisement:
A fraudster hatches a plan to misrepresent and defraud an unsuspecting victim in need of a vehicle to buy. He flights an advert in the local paper with the heading "Drive your dream car within few weeks".
The advert reflects unbelievable purchase prizes of the various types of vehicles on offer coupled together with very favourable terms of payment. The contact numbers and exact location of the offices are given. The advert also makes indication that customers should hurry for the offer on import cars.
The victim is assured that he will receive his car within a few weeks and is given the date when the consignment of cars will depart from Japan.
Pursuant to his criminal acts, as the date draws nearer for arrival of car, the fraudster phones the victim and advises him that there were logistical problems and the freight could not depart as scheduled.
In a calculative move, a few days later, the fraudster calls the victim and advises him that his vehicle is now at Durban and that he should pay the outstanding amount which includes duty to be paid in respect of the vehicle at our ports of entry. The victim pays the whole amount quoted at US$6 500 for a Toyota Camry double valve.
The time ticks away and the dream car is not yet received by victim who was advised three months ago that his car was in Durban. The fraudster becomes elusive and later relocates to an unknown place and changes his contact mobile number. The victim realises that he has been duped. You have to realise that it started with a fraudulent advert.
Below are tips that can help you to avoid being a victim of this type of fraud:
Treat each advert with caution until you are satisfied that there are no criminal intentions behind the advert;
Carry out own investigations about the individual or company advertising before you commit yourself to entering into a transaction after seeing an advert;
Commit yourself to a transaction only when it is safe for you to do so;
Bear in mind that the onus is upon you to prove whether the advert is genuine or not, it is not the responsibility of the local papers; and
Check with the police to find out if the company which flighted an advert is not involved in fraudulent business.
Remember you should not be a 2012 fraud victim!
These articles are published in line with the ZRP Theme of year 2012 - "ZRP for Total Peace, Stability and Progress". Keep tuned for more information.
For your comments and assistance with information that can be helpful to CID Serious Fraud Squad, you can contact me on 04-753543/0772 764 043.
Detective Assistant Inspector Tom Muleya works under the Public Relations Department CID Serious Fraud Squad, Harare.
Source - Public Relations Department CID Serious Fraud Squad
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