Telkom`s continuous fight against fraud and its commitment to providing excellent customer service has resulted in 11 arrests being made in what has been termed the `half-price scam`.
More than 500 customers countrywide have fallen victim to this scam and have collectively lost more than R1 million.
"The fraudsters contact customers telephonically, posing as Telkom officials, offering to clear their telephone account for that month, if they pay half the balance to a given bank account. The customers would allegedly save 50% of the amount they owe," explains George Baker, Executive: Customer Services.
Once the customer agrees, the fraudsters pay Telkom with a fraudulent cheque and provide the customer with a falsified receipt indicating a cash payment. With this verification, the customer then pays the money into the nominated accounts only to find a few days later that the cheque has been rejected, leaving the customer account in arrears and a damaged payment profile. The customer only realises this once Telkom contacts them to settle the bad payment on their account.
"Of the 500 customers who have fallen victim to the half price scam, only 92 have reported it. We are appealing to those people who have been scammed to report the incident on Telkom`s 24-hour fraud line 0861 124 000 or alternatively to contact the SAPS investigating officer, Inspector Oscar Mopedi, SAPS Commercial Branch, 64 Eloff Street JHB (011) 870 5375 or 083 435 2070," urges Baker.
Baker advises customers to always be vigilant and suggests the following tips to prevent you from being a victim of fraud:
* Telkom does not discount account payments.
* The best way to protect yourself is to make a point of paying your telephone account only through official Telkom channels as printed on the back of your account - Telkom customer service branches, post offices, authorised retail outlets, bank ATMs, Internet and telephone banking or via debit order.
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