Fraudulent 'Police Officers' on the Prowl in Welkom: Public Assistance Sought

Residents of Welkom are on high alert following a cunning scam perpetrated by three individuals posing as South African Police Service (SAPS) officers. A 43-year-old woman from Rheederspark was the recent victim of this fraudulent scheme that saw her lose R3000.

The Welkom SAPS detectives have ramped up efforts to capture the impostors by releasing identikits and seeking the assistance of the local community. The incident, which occurred on October 3, 2024, involved a well-orchestrated ruse beginning with the application of a black substance on the victim's arm.

According to the account given by the victim, the faux officers displayed what appeared to be SAPS appointment cards and duped her into believing they were on official duty. The perpetrators, while in a white Volkswagen Golf, played their parts convincingly—one even donned an actual SAPS uniform. In a startling act of deception, they instructed the victim to cancel her bank card and wait for them in Welkom's central business district, claiming they had apprehended the suspect.

The revelation of the fraud came too late when the woman, suspecting foul play, went to her bank and discovered that a withdrawal of R3000 had been made without her consent. This led to a case of fraud being registered with the Welkom SAPS, sparking an immediate investigation.

Detective Warrant Officer Dylan Saayman from Welkom Detective Services is spearheading the investigative efforts. To facilitate this, various means of communication have been established to encourage public participation in bringing these criminals to justice. Individuals with information that could lead to the arrest of these impostors are urged to contact Officer Saayman directly at 084 687 3014, or the national Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Additionally, tips can be submitted anonymously via the MySAPS App.

In response to this crime, the SAPS has issued a stern warning to the Welkom community to exercise vigilance and report any suspicious activities or individuals posing as police officers.

This fraud case underlines the increasing need for public awareness regarding the authenticity of law enforcement personnel and the importance of verifying identity before complying with any requests that could compromise personal and financial security.

The SAPS remains committed to ensuring the safety of the citizens and dedicates resources to prevent such nefarious activities from undermining the trust in legitimate law enforcement endeavors.