TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – AARP Kansas hosted a free Shred Event on April 4 in light of Fraud Prevention Month.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers in Kansas reported $57.6 million in fraud losses in 2024. Those scams commonly involved impostors and identity theft.
AARP is taking steps to prevent scams and identity theft. Recently, Gov. Laura Kelly issued a proclamation recognizing April as Fraud Prevention Month and the importance of protecting the information of Kansans.
Saturday’s Shred Event allowed the community to drop off documents for shredding, ensuring their personal information does not end up in the wrong hands.
AARP Kansas invites the public to stay up to date on the latest scams with their free biweekly text alerts. Text “FWN” to 50757 for scam updates.
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THE ISUZU MOTORS PAYROLL FRAUD (GQEBERHA, SA)
Date: February 16, 2026 Perpetrator: Natasja Slabbert (42)
Case Description: In a case that hit home for the Eastern Cape business community, Natasja Slabbert, a payroll administrator at Isuzu Motors South Africa’s Struandale plant, was arrested for an alleged R10.5 million fraud. The scheme, which began surfacing in late 2024, exploited the very systems designed to manage employee compensation. Slabbert allegedly manipulated payroll records to create false entries that appeared as legitimate deductions and contributions on employee payslips. In reality, these “deductions” were being diverted into her personal bank account.
The fraud was only uncovered after diligent employees noticed that their net “take-home” pay was significantly lower than expected, despite the gross amounts on their payslips remaining high. Following a thorough probe by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team and the NPA’s Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, it was discovered that in August 2024 alone, over R626,000 was unlawfully transferred. Slabbert was granted bail of R5,000 on February 17, 2026, and the case has been postponed to later in the month for further legal proceedings. This case highlights the critical need for “segregation of duties” in payroll departments, as a single point of failure allowed for the systematic siphoning of millions over nearly two years.
Link to Original: PE Express – Isuzu Payroll Fraud