RICA: not all need apply

SmartKit

SmartKit

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Recently I was caught up in a fraud case where several people lost money to a dubious individual. In this instance, there were two cell phone numbers available. When the police investigated they found these numbers to no longer be in use, no surprise.

However, I made mention of the fact that they should be able to trace the perpetrators using their RICA information. The detective informs me that neither of these numbers was RICA'ed; or, if it was, it was done with fraudulent information.

Now I find myself asking about the amount of inconvenience this system causes for ordinary law abiding citizens, yet it is completely possible to bypass the system if you are already criminally-minded.

So how does this system help prevent crime. The simple sad truth is that it does not.
 
There should be a way to find out the RICA status of a number... like if the person has had the contract for 10 years or if its a prepaid account RICAed at PEP. They could grade it 1-10
 
Were you not aware of the fact that laws only apply to the law abiding?

This country is a breeding ground for the those who are not [law abiding] as there is no accountability and or hardly any consequences should you transgress. There are thus little or no incentive to be a law abiding citizen, just more taxes and more levies and more laws to abide by.
 
I’m surprised this country is as law abiding as it is, considering the lack of consequences to most forms of fraud committed against the individual. Just today, I tried to lay fraud charges against someone who sublet my property to a third party without my permission. She got them to sign a SIX-year lease and pay a Six-month deposit. The property has now been sold and no one, including the cops or the lawyers, is prepared to do anything.
Unfortunately for the fraudster, she sublet my property to some Somalis who are very keen to have a word with her.
 
RICA is just nonsense. There are many places you can get "pre-RICAed" sim cards. You have to pay, though - R5 instead of R1 or R2.
 
phaktza said:
However, I made mention of the fact that they should be able to trace the perpetrators using their RICA information. The detective informs me that neither of these numbers was RICA'ed; or, if it was, it was done with fraudulent information.
Click to expand...

Copout: Cops did not want to bother looking.
 
phaktza said:
Recently I was caught up in a fraud case where several people lost money to a dubious individual. In this instance, there were two cell phone numbers available. When the police investigated they found these numbers to no longer be in use, no surprise.

However, I made mention of the fact that they should be able to trace the perpetrators using their RICA information. The detective informs me that neither of these numbers was RICA'ed; or, if it was, it was done with fraudulent information.

Now I find myself asking about the amount of inconvenience this system causes for ordinary law abiding citizens, yet it is completely possible to bypass the system if you are already criminally-minded.

So how does this system help prevent crime. The simple sad truth is that it does not.
Click to expand...

Of course it helps prevent crime,it never claim to stop all of it.
Of course you can bypass the system,that's the very nature of crime.

I think you trying to play the blame card because you were stupid enough to deal with a "dubious person" where you only had mobile numbers.

Should we stop putting locks on cars cause skelms open (some of them) them anyway?
Should we do away with criminalizing murder since (some) people getting killed anyway?

Would you feel better if there was no rica,that no rica would've stop you from getting into risky deals.
Stop looking for something to blame,man up.The best crime prevention systems in the world means nothing if there are stupid (and greedy) people falling for the obvious.
 
They should hold the Cell companies responsible.

In this country there is no such thing as "against the law" because the law is only applied when it suits the lawmakers and cANCer.
 
JustAsk said:
Of course it helps prevent crime,it never claim to stop all of it.
Of course you can bypass the system,that's the very nature of crime.
Click to expand...
Ag *** bru. Never mind bypassing it the system...I didn't have the required docs with me so the store keeper asked me to write the info on a piece of paper instead. He even volunteered that idea....

If it were a reasonable hurdle that had to be overcome then I'd agree with you but in practice it represents zero hassle for the crooks and an convenience for the non-crooks. Its a waste of time & money for zero benefit...
 
I still have a cellphone contract that I never RICA'd..... and the number still works perfectly.
 
I have a number Rica'd under some John Doe.

We have a rather interesting set up in SA; our lawmakers are criminals, our service providers are criminals.

Eat or be eaten my people.
 
HavocXphere said:
Ag *** bru. Never mind bypassing it the system...I didn't have the required docs with me so the store keeper asked me to write the info on a piece of paper instead. He even volunteered that idea....

If it were a reasonable hurdle that had to be overcome then I'd agree with you but in practice it represents zero hassle for the crooks and an convenience for the non-crooks. Its a waste of time & money for zero benefit...
Click to expand...

See what i mean.

You blame the law,instead of the store.Did you write the info down,helping in bypassing the system,since it would save you time and effort.Or did you refuse to be a part of it.I don't think so.Was it ok then,but now its time to look for something to blame...how dare he.

Should we scrap traffic laws if a traffic cop once let you go on a warning,or you even pay a bribe.Maybe you know of others too.Do you now blame the cops or the law?
 
JustAsk said:
Yeah,they just gave you a phone with a contract and say "Don't worry with details,we trust you"
Click to expand...


No, I never went in to RICA the contract as was required, and it just magically got RICA'd the day before the deadline...
 
phaktza said:
So how does this system help prevent crime. The simple sad truth is that it does not.
Click to expand...

It does prevent some crime. Not all crime. That is where you are misrepresenting the situation. No one ever said it would prevent ALL crime... even though that is the expectation you are presenting here.

Same as licensing your car does not mean that all crime committed in cars is stopped or preventable.

I think just make your expectations more realistic and you wont be confused everytime a crime is committed with a cell phone.

Also regarding the amount of inconvenience? Are you crazy? I walked into Pep today, bought two 8ta sims. They scanned the barcode on my ID and looked at a utility bill and that was it. Really.... is that so inconvenient? Pfff.... kids today. I was in and out of there in 5 min. Hard life I tell you.

AlphaBravo said:
Same reasoning around gun lisenceing.
Click to expand...

See above comment.
 
Last edited:
ToxicBunny said:
I still have a cellphone contract that I never RICA'd..... and the number still works perfectly.
Click to expand...

ToxicBunny said:
No, I never went in to RICA the contract as was required, and it just magically got RICA'd the day before the deadline...
Click to expand...

Sounds interesting. Care to give more details? Are you paying for the contract? Who is the service provider?
 
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