HITMAN SCAMMERS ARE ALL THE RAGE

 

The scam and fraud landscape is one that constantly transforms. One thing we as South Africans cannot say, is that our criminals are slow or lack ingenuity.

 

Something else I have to “admire” is the ability that the underworld players have to use one particular scam to morph into another.

 

Let’s look at what I like to refer to as, the “hitman with a conscience” scam. This is a scam where the victim is contacted and lead to believe that a “mark” or “price” has been put on their head.

 

In many cases the conmen making the call will allude to one of the many Business Mafia Cartels as the people requesting the hit on the victim. The caller will often say that the victim has been targeted due to their role in a particular sector and, how that is preventing the Mafia group from closing deals or getting contracts.

 

On other occasions, I have heard of the fraudster saying that the hit has been made by a disgruntled employee or, group of employees.

 

Now given that these scenarios actually do happen, it would be very wrong of me to advise people to ignore the message. Here is why I say that these criminals are masters of “piggy backing” off other “criminal” syndicates’ work. The inevitable number of hits that occur in South Africa almost weekly, give these gutter rats’ story credible motivation for the victim to believe.

 

This is where the “hitman with a conscience” reveals himself as the only person who can stop the hit from happening, but for a fee of course. I have investigated many of these cases and have seen that the scammers have on many occasions gone as far as to send images of the target’s vehicle or home. Thus, adding further legitimacy to their story.

 

Interestingly, I have found that on many of the cases I have handled, the scammer is known to the target or, linked to someone who knows the target. Majority of the time an employee.

 

Another version of this scam is the claim to be the investigating officer from the Hawks looking into a rape or child pornography case. Again, the Modus Operandi is to get the victim to pay an amount to have the case “go away” even though the victim knows they are innocent.

 

These scammers will send fake warrants of arrest or fake victim statements to give their scam credibility. In today’s world nobody can afford to ignore anything, however, awareness of these scams and how they play out, goes a long way in protecting yourself against them.

 

For further advice or assistance in dealing with fraud and criminal investigations, contact Mr Kyle Condon on 082 820 5363.