Telkom has warned businesses to be on the alert after uncovering a potentially devastating multi-million-rand scam aimed at ripping off South African banks and government organisations.
The scam, in which letters on Telkom letterheads were sent to a number of large private and public organisations advising them of a "new account" in which to deposit their payments to Telkom, could have seen millions end up in the hands of the syndicate behind the plot.
Uncovered last month, the scam is one of many involving the telecommunication organisation to have been launched.
Telkom's warning to businesses comes after a bank discovered a suspicious account established in Telkom's name.
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| 'People need to be vigilant' |
Financial investigators contacted Telkom to set up whether the organisation's banking details had, in fact, been changed.
Adding to investigators' suspicions were inquiries from businesses wanting to know whether the letter purportedly sent to them by Telkom was genuine.
The bank with whom the false account had been opened immediately froze it. Telkom declined to identify the bank in order to protect client confidentiality.
Dozens of businesses have since reported receiving similar letters, all on Telkom letterheads, informing them of the change in banking details.
Telkom spokesperson Xolisa Vapi said the fraudulent letters claimed the business's banking details would be changed as of November 11, 2002.
He said the syndicate had targeted some of Telkom's major corporate and government customers.
"This was done in the hope that funds from Telkom's clients would be transferred into its accounts instead of Telkom's.
"We have and are still issuing warnings to all our clients that this is a scam and that our banking details are not changing," said Vapi.
"The police are investigating the scam and are on the trail of those behind it. So far no arrests have been made," he said.
Vapi said that had the scam been successful, its effects would have caused serious financial losses.
He warned that other scams at present involved people masquerading as Telkom employees or "debt collectors", who offer to settle telephone accounts before robbing their victims. He said these were costing the organisation heavily.
"A Telkom customer in Empangeni became the latest victim of this scam after receiving phone calls from people offering to settle his telephone account.
"People need to be vigilant and must insist on seeing the Telkom employees' identification cards, which have to be carried whenever they are on official business," he said.
Vapi said customers were only to pay their accounts due to Telkom at official pay points listed on the back of each Telkom account. Anyone with information on criminal activities relating to Telkom can report these on the Telkom fraud and crime reporting number 0860 124 000.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Mercury on January 08, 2003
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