A dangerous new scam is sweeping across South Africa, with criminals impersonating police officers in a slick con that’s fooling people into handing over their personal details and even cash.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has raised the alarm over a scam that’s been spreading like wildfire across several provinces. Scammers are crafting convincing WhatsApp messages and forged documents bearing the official SAPS logo to create the illusion of legitimacy, as reported by Smile FM.
What makes this con especially devious is how personalised it is. Victims often get a phone call first, allegedly from a SAPS officer, telling them a criminal case has been opened against them. Soon after, they’re sent a fake letter over WhatsApp, complete with their location, real SAPS officer names, or even fictitious police station details to match.
Once the victim is rattled, the fraudsters drop the bomb: pay up, or the bogus case moves forward. Scammers typically demand immediate payments to make the supposed charges ‘go away’.
Crucially, SAPS has stated that it never conducts investigations or delivers case updates over WhatsApp, text, or video calls. Any communication from real officers will happen through official in-person or written channels.
This isn’t the first time scammers have leaned on authority figures to scare unsuspecting citizens into parting with their hard-earned money. Just last year, similar scams impersonating SARS officials did the rounds, using almost identical tactics to extort information and payments from the public.
SAPS is urging South Africans to stay sharp and take these key steps:
- Don’t respond to WhatsApp messages claiming to be from SAPS.
- Never hand out ID numbers, home addresses, or banking information over the phone or online.
- Don’t send money to anyone claiming to ‘sort out’ a case on your behalf.
- Report any suspicious communication to your local police station immediately.
Cybercrime specialists warn that criminals are constantly evolving their tactics, using AI and data scraping to make their scams more convincing. In this case, scammers seem to be using region-specific details to enhance the authenticity of the hoax, something that’s fooled even tech-savvy individuals.
If you’ve been targeted or have already interacted with one of these scam messages, make it a priority to go to your nearest police station and open a case. You can also stay ahead of the curve by following SAPS on their verified social media accounts and checking their website regularly for updates.
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Picture: Frennie Shivambu / Gallo Images
