The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) is the latest organisation to warn South Africans about a scam in which fraudsters pose as members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SAFPS said that scammers trick and intimidate individuals into handing over personal and financial information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In extreme cases, victims are manipulated into transferring funds to these scammers. The deception used a blend of impersonation, social engineering and cyber scams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scammers contact victims via telephone calls, WhatsApp calls and sometimes video calls claiming to be police officers from a regional SAPS station or specialised unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scammer informs the victim that their details, such as ID numbers, passport numbers, or bank accounts, have been linked to suspicious activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This activity can include airline ticket purchases, package deliveries, or illicit activity like human trafficking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Under the guise of investigating whether the victim is a suspect or an unwitting participant, the scammer creates a heightened sense of fear and urgency,” said SAFPS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“They falsely claim that the individual has been flagged as a possible perpetrator and must prove their innocence immediately, or they will be apprehended and jailed as they pose a security risk.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scammers may even send fake documents such as arrest warrants or search and seizure warrants, complete with SAPS and government logos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The documents often have legal jargon and formatting which closely resemble authentic government paperwork, which is enough to deceive individuals unfamiliar with legal or police procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Victims are often transferred to a second or third superior or specialist officer or department, reinforcing the illusion of a coordinated investigation,” said SAFPS’s Nazia Karrim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“These fake officers speak in formal and intimidating tones, instilling fear while pretending to guide the victim through a process to assist them in proving their innocence.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next phase will see the scammer communicating via WhatsApp, telling the victim not to contact their local police station, as it involves corrupt police officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victims are then directed to a video call where scammers, who refuse to show their faces, continue to issue threats and pressure the individual to comply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scammers manipulate victims into sharing highly sensitive information, banking details, ID numbers, assets and screenshots of accounts and bank statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scammers eventually tell victims to transfer funds to a fictitious account, comforting them by saying that the funds will be refunded once their innocence has been proven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another tactic criminals use is to direct victims to install a fake SAPS mobile app containing malware, allowing scammers to access the victim’s phone remotely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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