The silly season is in full force. This means that South African tourist hotspots like Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town have become prime locations for scam artists to take advantage of visitors.
Indeed, visitors who are keen to see the famed African penguin colony that inhabits the beach are finding themselves being coerced out of their hard-earned cash.
SANPARKS: BEWARE OF SCAMMERS AT BOULDERS PENGUIN COLONY
In a recent Facebook post, SANParks issued a warning to those who are flocking to Boulders Beach to see the penguins up close.
It reads:
Please be informed that entry payments to the Boulders Penguin Colony can only be made at the designated payment points.
Be cautious: if someone approaches you with a mobile device, asking for payment before you reach our entrance gate, they are not authorized [sic] personnel.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
It can be incredibly nerve-wracking to be approached for payment by individuals claiming to be Boulders Penguin Colony officials.
However, it can be incredibly unsettling discovering you were actually scammed by unauthorised persons trying to bank off tourists.
SANParks says that for your safety, you should not engage in any financial transactions “with such individuals whether in the parking areas or on the open access boardwalks.”
If they persist, you’d do well to report them to official staff members at the aforementioned payment points.
SCAMMERS ARE GETTING BOLDER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
This payment ploy is one of the many elaborate scams that con artists are implementing during the festive period. Most recently, they have been targeting Capetonians with threats of electricity disconnections.
They’ve also been preying upon South African holidaymakers with sophisticated travel booking schemes.
If you do encounter or fall victim to these scams during this time, report them to your nearest police station.
