Police nab wanted armed robbery suspect in the north

Police Arrest Wanted Suspect in Armed Robbery Case

Tshwane District police successfully apprehended a wanted suspect in an armed robbery and attempted murder case in Mabopane, located north of Pretoria on October 14. An intelligence operation conducted by the police led to the arrest of the suspect at Mabopane Taxi Rank.

Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, a police spokesperson, confirmed that the suspect was wanted in connection with an armed robbery and attempted murder case in Loate. The incident occurred in August when a victim was shot and robbed after responding to a vehicle advertisement on the Facebook Marketplace.

Community Urged to Exercise Caution in Online Transactions

Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, the provincial commissioner of Gauteng, commended the swift actions of the police team in addressing these online robberies prevalent in the Tshwane area. He expressed gratitude to the public for collaborating with law enforcement by reporting relevant information.

The police authorities have raised concerns about online scams involving fake advertisements on social media and online marketplaces aimed at defrauding unsuspecting buyers. According to Sergeant Connie Moganedi, investigations have revealed that many victims fall prey to scammers who post misleading ads, leading to financial losses.

Identifying a Marketplace Scam

When engaging in online transactions, vigilance is crucial to avoid falling victim to scams. Here are key signs advised by IT security company F-Secure to help identify potential scammers in online marketplaces:

– **Too good to be true:** Exercise caution if a deal appears exceptionally lucrative, as it may be a tactic used by scammers to deceive buyers or sellers.
– **Manufactured urgency:** Beware of immediate messages pressuring quick action, a common strategy employed by scammers to manipulate individuals into hasty decisions.
– **Odd payment requests:** Scammers often make unusual payment demands with strict conditions. Verify the legitimacy of transactions and avoid deals involving gift cards.
– **Suspicious photos:** Be cautious of listings with limited or outdated photos of items, as they may not accurately represent the products being sold.

For additional information or to report relevant details, please contact [email protected] or call 083 625 4114.

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Source: The Citizen