In recognition of International Fraud Awareness Week (16 to 22 November), the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) has launched the “Just Say Goodbye” campaign aimed at helping South Africans recognise and respond to increasingly sophisticated phone-based scams.
SAFPS CEO, Manie van Schalkwyk, warns that technology has become a significant battleground in the fight against fraud and that scammers are employing various tactics to turn consumers into victims – including 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 use psychological tactics and impersonation, often creating a sense of urgency and fear and convincing victims that their accounts or devices have been compromised, that they are in trouble, or that there is an exciting opportunity for them,” Van Schalkwyk says. “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 including 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,” says Van Schalkwyk. “They would also not ask you to download suspicious apps to your device – these are red flags.”
Phone call from “IT support” about a technical issue
Scammers phone victims posing as representatives from their IT support company and 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.
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,” he adds.
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!