Polokwane – An elderly man has been swindled out of his pension money after men, claiming to be members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), offered to keep it safe for him.
The Hawks issued a statement on Thursday urging the public to beware of the "bogus Hawks members operating in Polokwane".
Hawks spokesperson, Captain Matimba Mashele, said the victim was walking down a street in Polokwane when he was approached by a stranger who told him he had something "smeared on his coat".
"This unknown man even volunteered to call the 'police' who arrived in a blink of an eye."
The three fake policemen told the victim they were Hawks members and that he should give them his money for safekeeping.
They asked him to withdraw all his money from his bank account. Mashele said the elderly man withdrew all his money, totalling R90 000 on different dates and gave it to the men.
"On Wednesday, 19 April 2017, the old man visited the Hawks offices in Polokwane to meet with the officers who took his R90 000 for safekeeping. The victim was crushed to learn that he was actually swindled of his money. A case has since been opened in this regard."
The Hawks have warned members of the public that if anyone asks them to hand over money, claiming to be a member of the Hawks, they should report the matter to police immediately.