A sophisticated fraud syndicate that was illegally producing fake identity documents, bank and fuel cards, passports and drivers licenses out of a Raisethorpe flatlet was raided early on Saturday morning.
Mountain Rise police, the community policing forum, security company Mi7 and immigration officers swooped on the flatlet, situated above a hair salon, and found several undocumented immigrants hiding in cupboards.
While conducting a search of the flat after arresting the undocumented immigrants, officers discovered a locked room that contained about 300 bank cards from various financial institutions, 20 cellphones which were used to transact from some of those bank accounts, printing equipment commonly used for forgery, and fraudulent drivers’ licenses, identity documents, visas and passports.
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Police also found several retail store account cards including Edgars, Truworths, Makro and Rage listed to various people, including South Africans. A high-end colour printer and laminating machine was also seized from the premises.
We separated one Pakistani male and upon questioning him, he revealed a hardcover book indicating deposits and transfers to the cards in his possession belonging to unknown people.
“Members also found cellphones linked to specific accounts and banks with Gmail addresses, account numbers and pin numbers,” said acting uMgungundlovu District spokesperson, Warrant Officer Panchael Singh.
He said the Pakistani male was in possession of an Apple iPhone but deleted all his apps and refused to give any explanation as to how all of the fraudulent items and equipment were in their possession.
The man was subsequently arrested for the possession of suspicious properties with intention to commit fraud.
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According to a well-placed police source who understands how the syndicate operated, the scourge of duplicate, stolen or fraudulent documents are part of bigger crimes committed in the area.
The source explained that these fraudulent documents could be used to acquire loans from banks with no intention of making payments.
The cards could be stolen or duplicated and foreign nationals will use this fraudulent information to acquire loans and open businesses. Once they get the loan they close the business and cannot be traced. The phones may also be used so that when they are contacted by the bank they are able to confirm places of employment or residence which are non-existent or false.
“This is how they are able to defraud banks and purchase vehicles. Once they purchase the vehicle and receive a cash-back, they cannot be traced and nothing is repaid. With the printers they are able to print salary advice slips, passports and identity documents. This is all part of greater orchestrated crimes in the community,” said the source.
Another source said the foreign nationals also use the printing equipment to print fake drivers’ licenses to obtain employment at companies as delivery drivers.
When The Witness visited the area on Sunday, neighbouring businesses and residents said they were shocked as they had often seen the men in the area and assumed they lived and worked there legitimately.
“I would see foreign nationals coming in and out of that place, but I always thought they were just the errand boys. They do have a legit business, so I never really suspected anything,” said a business owner from the area.
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An elderly lady who is a resident in the area said that she heard the commotion in the street on Friday night.
It was in the early hours of the morning. I heard the sirens outside and I also saw the lights but I didn’t bother waking up because we always have such things that involve the police around this area. There are vagrants everywhere. So, when I heard that it was that business that was being raided and that they were doing illegal things there, I was completely shocked.
“I heard that all of these operations happened at their top floor and not at the bottom floor, which we know it to be a legit business,” said the elderly lady.
According to the woman, she would often see foreign nationals coming in and out of the shop on a daily basis.
She said that they mostly came in carrying boxes and sometimes they would come in a bakkie to drop things off.
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“I thought they were just taking in stock for their business,” she said.
Mountain Rise SAPS CPF chairperson, Sham Govender praised the work of all the role-players involved in the operation.
The entire operation was successful in that the community was invited to be a part of the operation. They were able to identify that SAPS members are working to fight crime in the community.
“It was a great effort from all the role-players including the security groups that operate in the area. We are working to address criminal activity in the area. One of the successes we have is the presence of SAPS, security, and community crime groups that are active on pension and Sassa grant payout days to ensure community members’ safety,” said Govender.
