Latest news with #SouthernAfricanFraudPreventionService
The South African
19-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
Fraudsters in South Africa prevented from stealing THIS much
Fraudsters in South Africa were busy in 2024. However, their efforts were repeatedly foiled by the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS). Speaking at their annual summit last week, the SAFPS says it prevented fraudsters from stealing R5 billion last year. And this brings the total of foiled financial crimes to R30 billion for the last decade. Manie van Schalkwyk, CEO for SAFPS believes more collaboration between organisations is needed to combat fraudsters in South Africa. He also highlights, the 'hotspots' for fraudsters in South Africa. Namely: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, which suffer from the highest instances of crime, otherwise known as the 'Fraud Triangle' of South Africa. Nevertheless, the good news is Gauteng showed a modest 5% decrease in fraud incidents compared to 2023. This is, in part, attributed to the Yima Anti-Scams WarRoom, which acts as a one-stop portal for financial service providers to report scam incidents or suspicious activities. Interestingly, more fraudsters in South Africa are impersonating their victims to gain access to accounts. This technique is up by 16%, says SAFPS, to 38% in 2024. Fascinatingly, men appear to be more popular targets, perhaps owing to the fact they're less fastidious about their finances and personal security than women. Worryingly, fraudsters in South Africa have a new easy target, retail card accounts. Image: File Van Schalkwyk also highlighted new scam trends for fraudsters in South Africa. One such practice is opening a bank account solely to move stolen money – 24% up in 2024. Alternatively, 'money mule' accounts – either willing or unwilling accomplice accounts – increased to 33%. Interestingly, retail card accounts – like supermarket rewards programmes – saw more than a 150% increase in crime. This is presumably because these accounts have less sophisticated fraud prevention technology/alerts. Criminals buy on credit and leave their victims with the bill, with debt often going undetected for weeks/months. Through impersonation, and willing accomplices in store, fraudsters may open/gain access to a consumer account with no intent to ever repay it. Nevertheless, despite these alarming tactics, SAFPS says it is winning the war. In 2024 alone, it saved R5 billion. And as this is less than the R7 billion it saved in 2023. Therefore, crime figures appear to be trending in the right direction. It fielded more than 72 000 calls to assist potential fraud victims last year. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
15-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Fraud prevention service saves clients more than R5-billion as scams soar in 2024
On Thursday, 15 May 2025, the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) kicked off its annual summit with a bang — or rather, a barrage of numbers that would make any fraudster's palms sweat. Held both in person at Nedbank's Rivonia Campus in Johannesburg and online, the summit unveiled the 2024 SAFPS Annual Report, presented by Roy Retief, Head of Operations at the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service. Although SAFPS managed to save its members (companies from the financial services and retail sectors) more than R5-billion last year and a whopping R30-billion over the past decade, fraud is not taking a holiday any time soon. 'Fraud has evolved and is becoming more sophisticated, more targeted and more personal,' said SAFPS CEO Manie van Schalkwyk. Van Schalkwyk further said there was a critical need for collaboration among organisations to combat rising fraud and scams effectively. Key initiatives like the Yima Anti-Scams WarRoom, which served as a one-stop portal where users could report scam incidents or suspicious activities, demonstrated SAFPS's commitment to leveraging shared intelligence and partnerships. Fraud's favourite hangouts When it comes to fraud hotspots, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape are still the usual suspects — think of them as the 'Fraud Triangle' of South Africa. Gauteng showed a modest 5% dip in fraud incidents compared to 2023, so the scammers there either took a short holiday or just got smarter about hiding. Impersonation spike Victims of impersonation — where your personal information is used fraudulently — account for up to 16% of SAFPS listings, and this category surged by 38% in 2024. Interestingly, men appear to be leading the pack as prime targets, showing that fraudsters aren't picky but might have a particular eye on the fellas. Fraud's many faces Fraudsters are getting creative, with scammers opening bank accounts solely to move stolen money — this sneaky misuse of accounts jumped 24%. Meanwhile, the number of money mules — those unwitting or willing accomplices who let criminals use their accounts — have dropped. 'We saw money mules dropping within the misuse of accounts by 33%, and typically… that is where account holders are making their accounts available to criminals willingly, sometimes not so willingly,' Retief said. However, retail accounts, which only accounted for 0.3% of fraud incidents, were under siege, with abuse soaring 155% as criminals took over credit and left the victims with the bill. 'Typically, you'd find (retail fraud) would occur where a consumer opens an account with a retailer with no intent to repay that debt at all,' he said. Billions saved, more to protect Despite these alarming statistics, there's a silver lining. Over the past decade, the SAFPS database has prevented R30.63-billion in fraud losses. In 2024 alone, it saved R5.04-billion, following R6.9-billion saved in 2023, while fielding more than 72,000 calls and more than 50,000 emails to assist victims and members. Christo Otto, the chairperson of the SAFPS board, commended the board's steadfast support and the SAFPS team's ongoing commitment to combating financial crime in 2024. 'The SAFPS board must be commended for its determination in supporting the ongoing work of the SAFPS in its fraud prevention efforts for members and consumers at large,' he said. What this means for you Although fraud is evolving fast, there are practical steps you can take right now to protect yourself and your finances: Your identity is a hot commodity: Protect your personal information. Think twice before sharing your ID or banking details online or over the phone. Retailers are prime targets: Your shopping accounts, both online and offline, are at risk. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication where possible. Fraud prevention is a team effort: You can actively protect yourself by registering your accounts and promptly reporting any fraud attempts. Stay informed, stay safe: Keep up to date with alerts from SAFPS and your financial institutions to avoid falling victim. The summit made one thing clear: fraud is evolving, and the fight against it must evolve too. With protective registrations steadily increasing and billions already saved, there is genuine hope that South Africa's fraudsters might find their playground growing smaller. DM
The Citizen
03-05-2025
- The Citizen
Warning: watch out for scammers posing as police
Scammers have a new trick up their sleeves to get hold of your personal information and your hard-earned money. The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service has issued a warning to consumers about scammers posing as members of the police who trick and intimidate people into handing over their personal and financial information, and in extreme cases, even manipulate victims into transferring money to them. Global cybersecurity reports have painted a picture of South Africa transformed into a hotbed for fraud since 2023, with scammers and fraudsters going to great lengths to conduct elaborate schemes that are convincing enough to transform even the most vigilant person into an unwitting victim. The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) is warning the public against scammers who pose as members of the South African Police Service (Saps). The scam involves a sophisticated blend of impersonation, social engineering and cyber scams. Nazia Karrim, head of product development at the SAFPS, says the scammers contact victims via telephone, WhatsApp and sometimes video calls claiming to be police officers from a regional Saps station or a specialised unit. ALSO READ: Watch out: scammers clone social media and websites to steal from you How police scammers operate 'The scammer tells the victim that their personal details (ID numbers, passport numbers or bank accounts) have been linked to suspicious activity, such as airline ticket purchases, package deliveries, transactions associated with human or drug trafficking, or other illicit activity. 'Under the guise of investigating whether the victim is a suspect or an unwitting participant, the scammers create a heightened sense of fear and urgency. 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.' To build credibility, the scammers send the victim fake documents, such as arrest warrants or search and seizure warrants, complete with official Saps and government logos. These documents often contain legal jargon and formatting closely resembling authentic government paperwork, enough to deceive individuals unfamiliar with legal or police procedures and documentation, Karrim says. 'To further legitimise the deception, victims are often transferred to a second or third superior or specialist officer or department, reinforcing the illusion of a coordinated investigation. These fake officers speak in formal and intimidating tones, instilling fear while pretending to guide the victim through a process to assist them to prove their innocence.' ALSO READ: How to spot the signs and avoid falling victim to online scams Next phase for police scammers The next phase usually involves instructions on how to communicate via WhatsApp. The scammer tells the victim not to contact their local police station or anyone else, claiming the matter is sensitive or involves corrupt police officials, which could further compromise them and the investigation or the lives of the victims they are trying to save (if an apparent human trafficking or kidnapping scenario is in play). 'Victims are then directed to participate in a video call to allegedly give a statement attesting to their innocence. During the call, which the scammer insists must be private, they continue to issue threats and pressure the individual to comply,' Karrim warns. Although it is a video call, the scammers refuse to show their faces, citing various reasons, including legality and security risks, she says. Meanwhile, the scammers manipulate victims into sharing highly sensitive information, banking details, ID numbers, lists of assets and even screenshots of accounts and bank statements. Eventually, they instruct the victim to transfer funds into a fictitious account, often claiming it belongs to the South African Reserve Bank for safekeeping during the investigation, comforting the victim by saying the funds will be refunded once their innocence has been proven. ALSO READ: Do South Africans open the door for scammers? Fake Saps app Karrim points out that in some cases victims are sent a link to install a fake Saps app containing malware on their phones. Some victims have even reported downloading it from trusted app stores. Once installed and granted permissions, the app gives scammers remote access to the victim's phone and data, enabling them to monitor calls, access all messages, emails and applications and conduct financial transactions and have them biometrically authenticated by the victim on the call, Karrim says. 'This scam is deeply traumatic for victims, combining psychological manipulation, fear tactics and compelling visuals. In some cases, scammers even register their numbers with call ID services like TrueCaller under legitimate-sounding police station names, making the call appear authentic. 'These calls can be as short as a 20-minute discussion to well over an hour, with scammers refusing to end the call until they have defrauded the victim.' ALSO READ: Banking scams are increasing – here's how to protect yourself Watch out for these red flags The SAFPS urges the public to be aware of these red flags: Official police investigations are never conducted via WhatsApp or any messaging app. The Saps do not use chat platforms for taking statements, issuing documentation or making arrests. Law enforcement does not conduct investigations via video calls. If someone claiming to be a police officer insists on a video call to take a statement, it is a significant warning sign. You have the right to ask for the officer's identification and to verify their credentials. Always contact your nearest police station directly to confirm their identity and understand the procedures for interviews with suspects or victims. The Saps will not send legal documents through chat apps or social media. All official documents are delivered in person and through appropriate legal channels. Law enforcement officials cannot prevent you from contacting your lawyer or a third party. If someone attempts to do so, they are likely trying to manipulate or intimidate you. You cannot be compelled to travel to a police station outside your province. Genuine investigations can occur at your local station, where an assigned officer will assist you. No police officer will ever ask you to transfer funds or share screenshots of your banking app or bank statements during a video call or through a chat service. The Saps, the Reserve Bank, or any other government agency will never request money to verify your innocence or safeguard your assets, regardless of the type of investigation. ALSO READ: How pyramid schemes scam you out of your money Karrim says if you suspect that you are a potential victim, you can take these steps to prevent the situation from escalating: Hang up immediately if something feels off and contact the local police station for assistance if necessary. Law enforcement authorities can be contacted through the Yima Hotline at 083 123 SCAM (7226). Do not click on links or download any apps sent via messaging platforms claiming to be from the Saps. Report the incident to your nearest police station and the SAFPS through the Yima website. ALSO READ: FSCA warns that scammers are impersonating financial services providers SAFPS scam prevention toolbox If technology is becoming more commonplace, how do we combat online scams and scams where social engineering plays a central role? Karrim points out that the SAFPS launched Yima in response to the growing need for a proactive approach to fraud prevention. 'The Yima website hosts a scams prevention toolbox for South Africans to report scams and scans websites for vulnerabilities related to scams. Consumers can also expand their knowledge of how to identify scams.' Karrim says the Yima website's main element is the ability to report a scam incident or any suspicious activity to the SAFPS using the website. Intelligence gathered from these reports is collated and shared with law enforcement for investigations. Users can also access a scam hotline to report a fraud incident directly to relevant authorities such as banks and the Saps. These features are live and anybody can access them.
IOL News
30-04-2025
- IOL News
Beware of scammers posing as police officers, warns SAFPS
Scammers and fraudsters going to great lengths to carry out elaborate schemes that are convincing enough to transform even the most vigilant person into an unwitting victim. Image: File THE Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) is warning the public against a scam in which scammers are posing as members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) who trick and intimidate individuals into handing over personal and financial information to them. In extreme cases, victims are even manipulated into transferring funds to these scammers. The method of deception used to scam targets involves a sophisticated blending of impersonation, social engineering and cyber scams. Scammers contact victims via telephone calls, WhatsApp calls and sometimes video calls claiming to be police officers from a regional SAPS station or a specialised unit. The scammer informs the victim that their personal details (ID numbers, Passport numbers, or bank accounts) have been linked to suspicious activity such as airline ticket purchases, package deliveries, transactions associated with human or drug trafficking, or other illicit activity. 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. 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. SAFPS Head of Product Development, Nazia Karrim said, to build credibility, the scammers send fake documents such as arrest warrants or search and seizure warrants, complete with official SAPS and government logos. These documents often contain legal jargon and formatting closely resembling authentic government paperwork, enough to deceive individuals unfamiliar with legal or police procedures and documentation. "To further legitimise the deception, victims are often transferred to a second or third superior or specialist officer or department, reinforcing the illusion of a coordinated investigation. 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,' explained Karrim. The scammers manipulate victims into sharing highly sensitive information, banking details, ID numbers, lists of assets, and even screenshots of accounts and bank statements. Image: File Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The next phase usually involves instructions on how to communicate via WhatsApp. The scammer tells the victim not to contact their local police station or anyone else, claiming the matter is sensitive or involves corrupt police officials, which could further compromise them and the investigation or the lives of the victims they are trying to save (if an apparent human trafficking or kidnapping scenario is in play). 'Victims are then directed to participate in a video call to allegedly give a statement attesting to their innocence. During the call, which the scammer insists must be private, they continue to issue threats and pressure the individual to comply," warned Karrim. Further issues Scammers refuse to show their faces on video calls, citing various reasons, including legality and security risks. Meanwhile, the scammers manipulate victims into sharing highly sensitive information, banking details, ID numbers, lists of assets, and even screenshots of accounts and bank statements. Eventually, they instruct the victim to transfer funds into a fictitious account, often claiming it belongs to the South African Reserve Bank for safekeeping during the investigation, comforting the victim by saying the funds will be refunded once their innocence has been proven. In other cases, victims are sent a link to install a fake SAPS mobile application containing malware. Some victims have even reported downloading it from trusted app stores. Once installed and granted permissions, the app gives scammers remote access to the victim's phone and data, enabling them to monitor calls, access all messages, emails, and applications, and conduct financial transactions and have them biometrically authenticated by the victim on the call. "This scam is deeply traumatic for victims, combining psychological manipulation, fear tactics, and compelling visuals. In some cases, scammers even register their numbers with call ID services like TrueCaller under legitimate-sounding police station names, making the call appear authentic. These calls can be as short as a 20-minute discussion to well over an hour, with scammers refusing to end the call until they have defrauded the victim," said Karrim. Red flags To protect yourself, the SAFPS urges the public to be aware of the following red flags: Official police investigations are never carried out via WhatsApp or any messaging app. The SAPS do not utilise chat platforms for taking statements, issuing documentation, or making arrests. Law enforcement does not conduct investigations via video calls. If someone claiming to be a police officer insists on a video call to take a statement, it is a significant warning sign. You have the right to ask for the officer's identification and to verify their credentials. Always contact your nearest police station directly to confirm their identity and understand the procedures for interviews with suspects or victims. The SAPS will not send legal documents through chat apps or social media. All official documents are delivered in person and through appropriate legal channels. Law enforcement officials cannot prevent you from contacting your lawyer or a third party. If someone attempts to do so, they are likely trying to manipulate or intimidate you. You cannot be compelled to travel to a police station outside of your province. Genuine investigations can occur at your local station, where an assigned officer will assist you. No police officer will ever ask you to transfer funds or share screenshots of your banking app or bank statements during a video call or through a chat service. The SAPS, the Reserve Bank, or any other government agency will never request money to verify your innocence or safeguard your assets, regardless of the type of investigation. Steps to take Potential victims can take the following immediate steps to prevent the escalation of the situation. Hang up immediately if something feels off; following that, contact the police station for assistance if necessary. Law enforcement authorities can be contacted through the Yima Hotline at 083 123 SCAM (7226). Do not click on links or download any apps sent via messaging platforms claiming to be from SAPS. Report the incident to your nearest police station and the South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) through the Yima website ( 'Warn the community, especially the elderly or vulnerable, about this scam. Finally, by staying informed and vigilant, you can protect yourself and others from falling victim to these sophisticated and emotionally distressing scams," said Karrim. Scams Prevention Toolbox Karrim pointed out that the SAFPS launched Yima in response to the growing need for a proactive approach to fraud prevention. "The Yima website hosts a scams prevention toolbox for South Africans to report scams and scan websites for vulnerabilities related to scams. Additionally, consumers can expand their knowledge of how to identify a scam," she said. The website's main element is the ability to report a scam incident or any suspicious activity to the SAFPS using the Yima website. Intelligence gathered from these reports will be collated and shared with law enforcement for investigations. Users can also access a scam hotline to report a fraud incident directly to relevant authorities such as banks and the South African Police Services. These features are live, and all parties can access them. "Additionally, Yima users will have access to the consumer products and services offered by the SAFPS at no cost. Protective Registration and Fraud Victim Registration are two important products that protect victims of impersonation and scams. Combined with Yima, the SAFPS has created a bouquet of products that takes the fight to fraudsters and scammers. As the custodians of fraud prevention in Southern Africa, we are making a difference to the threat landscape," said Karrim. SUNDAY TRIBUNE
