Beware: Thieves use new vehicle tracker scam to steal cars

Business Insider SA

Oct 27, 2020, 10:35 AM

SA traffic

Clients of vehicle tracking companies are being targeted in a new scam involving thieves posing as technicians.
The criminals contact clients under the pretence that something is wrong with their tracking device.
They then take the vehicle for a test drive – never to return again.
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Clients of vehicle tracking companies are being targeted in a new scam involving thieves posing as technicians.

Both Netstar and Tracker have confirmed that their customers are being contacted by the scamsters who are pretending to work for the company.

“They advise the customer that there is something wrong with their tracking device and that they need to come out to repair or replace the device," Tracker said in a statement.

“Once on site the perpetrators will claim that they need to test the device by taking the car for a test drive or they will say that they can’t finalise the repairs on site and need to take the vehicle back to the fitment centre.”

The thieves then make off with the vehicles.

According to Tracker, thieves are mainly targeting customers in Gauteng.

A Tracker technician will never need to nor should they ask to test drive your vehicle, the company said.

It also advised its clients to always ask a caller who claims to be from Tracker to ask the set of security verification questions. “If they are unable to do so, advise them that you will need to contact someone at Tracker to verify their claim.”

If a request comes via email, the email address should be from the company’s email address.

Netstar says it has sent alerts to customers, staff and fitment centres to warn them about the scam, and investigations are underway.

“We are conducting an inquiry to ensure customer information remains protected and to help apprehend suspects so that justice is served.” said Netstar’s operations executive Charles Morgan. “We have alerted customers of the situation, warning them to be vigilant, as several attempts have been thwarted by alert customers."

On social media, a number of vehicle tracking customers confirmed that they have been contacted by the scammers:

My brother received the call and he told whoever called that his tracker is fine, it doesn’t need replacement. He then called tracker to enquire why would they fit a tracker and later say they are sending people to replace it? He knew it was alarming
— Amukelani Mahlaule (@amu_mookie) October 27, 2020

Hebanna! This is scary because just this afternoon a friend of mine said she was stressed because her tracking company called her to tell her that her tracking device doesn't work! ??‍??Thanks for sharing. Will immediately share with her. She could be getting scammed.
— nyana ka Phandle (@PhandleVuyo) October 26, 2020