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.