Polokwane – A suspected con artist was arrested after she was caught allegedly attempting to defraud a student of R1 000, Limpopo police said on Tuesday.
The police said a female suspect, posing as a University of Limpopo administrator, was arrested for allegedly trying to con unsuspecting students’ out of their registration and accommodation fees.
The arrest was made after a victim of an attempted fraudulent act informed campus security.
The complainant said she had been approached by the suspect who was wearing a University of Limpopo student assistant tag. The suspect allegedly told the complainant that she could assist with the complainant’s sister’s registration. The suspect had then informed them that the fee for this would be R1 000.
Suspecting something was amiss, the complainant informed campus security who decided to set up a trap.
Security gave the complainant R1 000 with which she returned to the suspect. The complainant paid the suspect and as promised, the suspect presented the fake admission letter.
Campus security then arrived, questioned the suspect about how she had obtained the student assistant tag, and discovered five more fake admission letters.
Police spokesperson Constable Matimba Maluleke said that the 24-year-old suspect had allegedly roamed the campus looking for potential victims. He said that the suspect was a former student who was arrested in 2013 for a similar offence.
“The suspect was once arrested in February 2013 for a similar offence of defrauding students at the very same university and she was given a suspended sentence of three months,” said Maluleke.
Maluleke said students were to be vigilant during the registration period as a similar case had been reported of students being robbed.
“Furthermore, we appeal to those who might have fallen victim to this suspect to come to the police station to lay a criminal charge.”
The suspect was expected to appear at the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on a charge of fraud.
African News Agency
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