As we approach year-end, the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) is raising awareness to empower people this International Fraud Awareness Week (16–22 November).
SAFPS CEO, Manie van Schalkwyk, warns that technology has become a significant battleground in the fight against fraud, and scammers are employing various tactics to turn consumers into victims.
Just Say Goodbye
The SAFPS has launched the ‘Just Say Goodbye’ awareness campaign aimed at helping South Africans recognise and respond to increasingly sophisticated phone-based scams. These scams, known as vishing, involve fraudsters phoning victims impersonating representatives from banks, financial institutions, cellular companies, insurers, law enforcement or government agencies to manipulate victims into revealing sensitive information or transferring funds.
Van Schalkwyk warns that these scams are highly deceptive, often targeting both individuals and corporate employees with access to financial systems.
Scammers are master impersonators
“Scammers use psychological tactics and impersonation, often creating a sense of urgency and fear, convincing victims that their accounts or devices have been compromised, that they are in trouble, or that there is an exciting opportunity for them. Victims are then pressured to provide one-time pins, banking credentials, grant access to their device, or even instructed to transfer money.
Common scenarios include receiving a call from your “bank’s fraud department” saying there is a problem with your account, or receiving a call from your “cellular company’s fraud department” claiming that a SIM swap has been requested on your number and they want to assist you to ‘stop it’.
Other scenarios include:
Phone call from “law-enforcement” about being linked to criminal activity
In April this year, the SAFPS drew attention to an ongoing scam involving the impersonation of members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), where scammers used social engineering, fake documents, and calls to intimidate victims into sharing personal and financial information. Posing as SAPS officials, scammers claim there is a warrant for their arrest or that the victim is linked to criminal activity and must urgently prove their innocence.
To build credibility, scammers send forged arrest warrants and transfer calls to fake “superiors,” escalating fear and compliance. Victims are coerced into private WhatsApp and video calls where they are pressured to disclose sensitive data, which includes banking details. In some cases, they’re tricked into transferring funds to fraudulent accounts allegedly held by the South African Reserve Bank. Others are directed to install malware-laced apps that grant scammers remote access to their devices.
“The SAPS does not conduct investigations via chat apps or video calls, nor do they request money or restrict legal counsel. They would also not ask you to download suspicious apps to your device, these are red flags,” cautions Van Schalkwyk.
Phone call from “IT support” about a technical issue
Scammers phone victims posing as representatives from their IT support company, claiming they need to do urgent security updates on their computer due to a supposed virus or a technical issue. They create a sense of urgency, and the goal is to steal financial information, money, to gain access to the victim’s device or to install malware (malicious software designed to disrupt or gain access to computer systems).
There are a few red flags to look out for. “If you receive an unsolicited call from your alleged IT support company saying there is an urgent technical issue and they request immediate remote access to ‘fix’ it, you should just say goodbye,” warns Van Schalkwyk. “They may try and pressure you to act quickly and get somewhat annoyed when you don’t comply. If you do engage with them, they could ask for payment or a fee outside of the usual arrangement you have with them. Just say goodbye, end the call and phone your service provider via their official channels.”
“It’s important to note that scammers often have some personal information on hand, which they use to build trust and legitimacy,” says Van Schalkwyk.
The SAFPS urges the public to ‘Just Say Goodbye’; end suspicious calls immediately, do not share information, do research and verify any claims directly with their service provider using official channels. Stop. Think. Verify. Don’t get scammed!
Visit the Yima website on www.yima.org.za to report scams and learn more about scam types, how to spot them, and what to do. Keep an eye on the SAFPS and Yima social media platforms for more information.
Be Vigilant – Festive Shopping Is a Prime Target
The public needs to be aware that they are entering into a time of year where scammers and fraudsters are particularly active. The SAFPS warns consumers to stay vigilant during Black Friday (which will be held on 28 November this year), as scammers exploit the surge in online and in-store shopping deals.
In 2022, South Africans spent over R3 billion during Black Friday, with online card-not-present transactions rising by 31%. This increased to R3.2 billion in 2024, continuing the trend of an 11% year-on-year increase observed by First National Bank (FNB). The bank notes that, on Black Friday in 2024, FNB processed 20 million card transactions, with a maximum of 690 transactions per second. The bank reports that it continued to see an upward trend in FNB Virtual Card usage, with a 59% year-over-year increase in customer spend on Black Friday.
Van Schalkwyk warns that this spike in activity creates fertile ground for scams, including spoofed shopping websites that mimic legitimate retailers to steal personal and banking information. Other scams include fake account verification requests, billing error scams, and deceptive social media ads offering non-existent or misrepresented products. “Social engineering is a key tactic during this time where scammers use urgency and the fear of missing out to manipulate victims into acting quickly. Don’t become a victim, be aware of the red flags and just say goodbye,” says Van Schalkwyk.
Just Say Goodbye is About Empowerment
While the central element of the recently launched ‘Just Say Goodbye’ campaign aims to educate consumers about how they respond to vishing scams, Van Schalkwyk points out that the campaign is also about being aware of the fraud landscape and the protection the public has against fraud.
“Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and will continue to do so as long as scammers use modern, technology-based methods to run their scams. The public needs to be aware of the fraud landscape, which is why we believe the ‘Just Say Goodbye’ campaign is an important initiative, especially during events such as International Fraud Awareness Week. Consumers should know they have power and that there are things available to protect them. We urge them to stop, think and just say goodbye,” says Van Schalkwyk.
Video: JUST SAY GOODBYE TO FRAUD THIS INTERNATIONAL FRAUD AWARENESS WEEK
Boilerplate and Editor’s Notes.
More Info on JUST SAY GOODBYE TO FRAUD THIS INTERNATIONAL FRAUD AWARENESS WEEK here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BullionPR
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BullionPR
SAFPS HELP-LINE: 011 867-2234
Yima Hotline: 083 123 SCAM (7226)
Yima Website: https://www.yima.org.za/
CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za.
Submit your Press Release for free to MyPR here: MyPR Free Press Release Submission.