Kaya 959 Reporter
A twitter user has shared a sad experience of how she lost her cellphone at the Mall of Africa in Midrand
In the Twitter thread she narrates a story of she unexpectedly lost her cellphone. @__Ayabulela shared her story to warn people to be more vigilant in public spaces.
I put my cellphone in my handbag, closed it and looked for the item. Got the item and walked to the till to pay. As I was walking towards the pay point, someone else’s iPhone rang in the store, so I thought it was mine and reached for it in my bag, but I could not find it.
— LALA (@__Ayabulela) September 29, 2021
I immediately ask the person who’s iPhone rang to call my phone, it rings and there’s no answer. I went to the closest ATM to block my card and then ran off to the iStore so they can help me find my iPhone. We logged into my cloud and find my iPhone had already been disabled.
— LALA (@__Ayabulela) September 29, 2021
So I open a case of theft and they ask for necessary details, I call my family back home to assist since my cellphone box and everything was there. They help me and I open the case. The officer helping tells me there’s a whole syndicate at Mall of Africa. It’s women who do this.
— LALA (@__Ayabulela) September 29, 2021
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She also shared how this group of criminals travel in groups of 3-5, working with certain people inside the mall and they target you, especially when they see you are alone.
She says that some of the item they take include cellphones, bags, sometimes cars and anything else really.
Anyway, I go back home and sleep because I have a flight to catch at 06:15 on Friday morning to PE for my sister’s wedding. I land in PE and my mom advises I go to the bank to make a new card because I will need money over the weekend. I get to the bank and they do so.
— LALA (@__Ayabulela) September 29, 2021
The twitter went on to say that she later realized that her account was wiped out by someone who used her phone to transfer the funds from her account and later withdrew the money from an ATM at the mall.
I’m in disbelief at this point because there’s no way. He tells me all the money was transferred using my banking app, into another account that was opened on the same Thursday, then withdraw at an Atm at Mall of Africa still.
— LALA (@__Ayabulela) September 29, 2021
Also Read: Police Minister Bheki Cele releases crime stats
This time of the year is the busiest when it come to phishing scams, fraud and criminality. The Twitter user warned those with Banking Apps to be extra vigilant.
Anyway, I am okay. Trying to make ends meet somehow, while waiting on the bank and SAPS investigation. My hair business website has also been stopped so they don’t gain access to my customers and somehow scam them. Another source of income on hold.
— LALA (@__Ayabulela) September 29, 2021



