POLICE FLUSH OUT ID FRAUDSTERS IN PTA

In my opinion, identity fraud is one of the most debilitating things that could happen to an individual. It's is like your whole life has been raped.

Take care of your documents, take care of your banking and/or legal correspondence. Makes sure that your FICA and FAIS responsibilities are always taken care of - don't give your personal information out willy nilly!

Police flush out ID fraudsters in Pretoria
January 19 2007 at 05:06AM
By Sholain Govender

Pretoria police have uncovered a fraudulent ID operation being run in the toilets of the department of home affairs in Pretoria. Two men, aged 36 and 66, were detained by police for questioning after a team of eight undercover officers found illegal documents hidden in the ceiling of a men's toilet cubicle at the offices in Pretorius Street on Thursday. Police spokesperson Inspector Paul Ramaloko said the men detained were not home affairs employees but it appeared that they ran an illegal operation from the building's toilets.

Acting on information received after several arrests in connection with ID and passport fraud last week, police searched the seventh floor restrooms at the Home Affairs building. They found the stash of documents, including passport papers, identity document application forms, forms for resident permits and visitors' visas.

Ramaloko said the men were detained after entering the rest-room. "These men were possibly working with Home Affairs officials because there are official stamps on some of the documents," said Ramaloko. The police also confiscated fingerprint ink pads, several wallets containing bank cards, driver's licences and stolen IDs. Forged police forms from local police stations were also found. A further search of the building's other toilets revealed another large stash of fraudulent documents, including birth certificates and ID application forms with ID photos attached.

Last Wednesday, the Pretoria Central Crime Intelligence Unit bust a syndicate run by foreigners in the Tshwane area. Two Zimbabweans were arrested at their home next to the department of home affairs. It is alleged the fraudsters would approach people waiting in the long queues at the Marabastad Home Affairs offices in Bloed Street and offer to "process" their documents quickly. In return, people would pay them a fee of between R100 and R1 000. These would mostly be foreigners wishing to apply for refugee status in the country. Two more suspects (a Zimbabwean and a Nigerian) were arrested on Thursday.

Police suspect that officials within the building assisted the fraudsters by passing on documents from the ground floor after applicants paid for their services. More arrests are expected to follow.

This article was originally published on page 3 of Pretoria News on January 19, 2007