The Heidelberg SAPS Station Commander, Colonel P. Selota, has warned members of the public to be cautious of individuals promoting rewards programmes at shopping centres after a resident allegedly lost more than R250 000 in a sophisticated fraud scam.
According to police, an African man and woman were reportedly promoting Astron Rewards at Heidelberg Mall on 25 June 2026.
They allegedly approached members of the public, asking them to download the Astron app on their mobile phones and take a selfie before leaving.
Police said a complainant later received a call from his bank informing him that a personal loan application had been approved and that monthly instalments would be payable. The complainant was unaware of any loan application and immediately visited the bank the following day.
It was discovered that a loan of R257 500 had allegedly been approved in his name and that the funds had already been withdrawn through 11 separate transactions reflected on his bank statement.
“A case of fraud has been opened for further investigation. The suspects are still at large,” Heidelberg police confirmed.
Colonel Selota has appealed to residents to exercise caution when approached by strangers requesting that they download applications, take selfies or provide personal information.
Members of the public are encouraged to verify the identity of promoters and never disclose banking details or one-time passwords to anyone.
Anyone with information that could assist police in identifying the suspects is urged to contact the Heidelberg SAPS or report information anonymously through the SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.
