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100 000 COPIES WEEKLY WEDNESDAY September 30, 2015 | 0 041 503 6111 | Email express@media24.com | www.peexpress.co.za |
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EDITOR: BETTIE GILIOMEE
Card cloners target students CHANDRÉ MASOLING
C
ONCERNS about a possible ATM card cloning syndicate have been growing for the past three months among students of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) who reside in the Summerstrand, Humewood and Central areas. According to the head of the security department at NMMU, Derek Huebsch, there have been repeated incidents of ATM card cloning and swopping over the last three months. The most recent case is that of an international student who lost R20 000 by means of card cloning.
According to Roslyn Baatjies, spokesperson of NMMU, the money was withdrawn in three different transactions. Two other students were nearly victims, but realised that something was wrong before the thieves could do
The most recent case is that of an international student who lost R20 000 by means of card cloning. any further damage. According to Huebsch, there has also been a 25% increase in contact crimes such as rob-
bery and theft against students in the above mentioned areas. “Our students fall prey and are targeted as a result of their habitual behaviour.” The behaviour Huebsch is referring to is that students walk with purses and cellphones in their hands and walk alone at night. Brig. Ronald Koll, Commander at the Humewood Police station, said the increase in card cloning incidences in the Humewood and Central areas started about six months ago. “These crooks do their homework extremely well and they go around in the Walmer and Gelvandale areas too. “Last week we received three cloning incident complaints, and this is the reason why the police are pushing toward a breakthrough. We don’t want more people to get af-
fected,” Koll said. No arrests have been made this far, but a task team has been established to focus on card cloning. While the police are investigating the incidents, NMMU management has warned students not to withdraw money from ATMs after banking hours. Students are also advised to walk in large groups at night and to avoid walking alone. Students must in particular be on the lookout for strange messages on ATM screens such as “Provide your account details.” The police are advising residents to withdraw money at ATMs which are located inside shopping centres, rather than ATMs which are on the outside and are unsupervised.
New rhino calf for Kragga Kamma The Kragga Kamma Game Park is celebrating the birth of a rhino calf after 17yearold Bella gave birth early on Saturday morning. This male calf, who weighs between 30kg and 40kg, does not have a name yet. According to coowner of the game park, Ayesha Cantor, they are giving the public the opportunity to name the new calf. The last rhino calf born at the game park was also a male, called Champ, and it was born in February this year. All the rhinos’ horns at the game park are trimmed to protect them from poachers. To find out more about naming the calf and for more photos, visit the PE Express Newspaper facebook page. PHOTO: AYESHA CANTOR
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