Gone in 5 secs: How the Mall of Africa 999 syndicate of thieves wipe your bank account in 5 seconds
The Mall of Africa was supposed to be a playing ground of the rich and affluent, where money and bling do the talking. What was supposed to be a haven of safety has been turned into a hunting ground of purse-snatchers, fraudsters, scammers and kidnappers.
The 999 syndicate operates and is responsible for 95% of crimes in and around the Mall, the group has 27 members who operate in 3 groups of 9 members thus the name 999 syndicate. Each and every group comprises pickpockets and technicians who are adept with fraud technology, card cloning and sophisticated cellphone unlocking technology. To the surprise of many, according to one of the 999 syndicate members these gangs operate with some Mall security personnel.
How does the 999 syndicate wipe out victims bank accounts?
The gangs don’t just bump into victims, they take their time to study potential victims, their movement and valuable gadgets or cash they carry around.
According to a former pickpocketer, they target one’s side of weakness, left-handers tend to lose the valuables they put in the right pocket so as right-handed people lose possessions in and via their left side.
“Concentration and strength are concentrated in your stronger side so they target your weaker side, in soccer, it’s called the blind side”, he said.
After pickpocketing a cellphone, it changes hands more than 6 times in less than 1minute till it reaches the so-called IT guys who hack it into one’s bank account and wipe off every bank balance.
In a recent incident, a Twitter user and influencer Ayabulela Mahleza narrated how she lost her iPhone to the 999 syndicate in the Mall of Africa.
I was at the Mall of Africa shopping on Thursday 23 September 2021. My cellphone was in my hand the entire time until I needed to look for a specific item inside the store.
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.
I was carrying a small crossbody bag so there was really not much space. I looked in the trolley, took out items thinking maybe it fell in there even though I knew I put it in my bag. At this point, it was shock and denial because my phone was gone.
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.
At this moment she knew she was outsmarted
At this point it clicks to me that my phone is really gone and I proceed to find means to get an Uber and go home and to the SAPS. My friend Asisipho gets me an Uber home and I change, put all the groceries and stuff I had and went to the SAPS.
— SUSHI’S MOM (@__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.
— SUSHI’S MOM (@__Ayabulela) September 29, 2021
They travel in groups of 3-5, they work with certain people inside the mall and they target you, especially when they see you are alone. They take cellphones, bags, sometimes cars and anything else really. This is their 9-5 and there's at least 1 caught every week.
— SUSHI’S MOM (@__Ayabulela) September 29, 2021
How to be safe at the Mall of Africa
Only one way to be safe from these thieves is to shop in groups and avoid flaunting high-value gadgets, avoiding carrying cash and crowded spaces within the mall, be vigilant all the time.