--- title: "Scams in South Africa: latest scams and where to report" url: https://tapsafely.com/scams-in-south-africa source: TapSafely description: "The scams hitting people in South Africa most, official figures, who scammers pretend to be, and where to report a scam." --- [Home](https://tapsafely.com/)/[Scams by country](https://tapsafely.com/scams-by-country)/ South Africa Scams by country # Scams in South Africa: what to watch for right now A plain summary of the scams official agencies in South Africa warn about most, with the latest published figures and the fastest way to get help. By the TapSafely editorial team · Updated 16 September 2026 ## The numbers South Africa recorded 97,975 digital banking fraud incidents in 2024, up 86%, with gross losses of R1.888 billion, up 74%. [South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC)](https://www.sabric.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CRIME-STATISTICS-REPORT-2024.pdf) Gross fraud losses on South African issued credit cards reached R559.3 million in 2024, up 25.4% from 2023. [South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC)](https://www.sabric.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CRIME-STATISTICS-REPORT-2024.pdf) ## Scams to watch for in South Africa Common in South Africa ### Fake bank calls, texts and emails SABRIC says banking app fraud made up 65.3% of digital banking fraud incidents in 2024, mostly through social engineering such as phishing, vishing and smishing rather than hacking. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/phishing-links) Common in South Africa ### SIM swap fraud SABRIC says SIM swap fraud continued to drive digital banking crime in 2024, letting criminals intercept one-time PINs. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/verification-code-scams) Common in South Africa ### Fake investment schemes SABRIC says scams using fake bank executives to push fake investment schemes increasingly spread through Facebook and WhatsApp in 2024. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/crypto-investment-scams) Common in South Africa ### AI voice clone and deepfake scams SABRIC warns that criminals use voice cloning and deepfakes to impersonate people and bank officials. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/ai-voice-clone-calls) Common in South Africa ### QR code phishing SABRIC lists malicious QR codes that send victims to fraudulent websites among the social engineering methods seen in 2024. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/qr-code-scams) Common in South Africa ### Romance scams SABRIC says romance and investment scams build trust over time before inventing an emergency or a fake opportunity. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/romance-scams) ## Who scammers pretend to be Banks and bank fraud departments · Bank officials and executives · Company CEOs and suppliers · Microsoft and other tech companies Never trust a call, text or email just because it uses one of these names. Contact the organisation using details you find yourself. ## If you've been scammed in South Africa 1. Call your bank's fraud line immediately so it can stop payments and block your cards or banking app. 2. Report the crime at your nearest SAPS police station and ask for a case number. 3. If your phone suddenly shows Emergency Calls Only or you lose signal, contact your bank and your mobile network provider right away, as this can be a sign of SIM swap fraud. ## Where to report a scam in South Africa - [Report cybercrime anonymously to SAPS Crime Stop](https://www.saps.gov.za/services/cc_crime_stop.php) · **08600 10111** Reviewed 2026-09-16. Services change, so check the official site if a link doesn't work. ## Scam Weather for South Africa Loading… ### Got a suspicious message? Check it free. It works in any language. [Check a message](https://tapsafely.com/#check) ## Questions What are the most common scams in South Africa? According to official sources: Fake bank calls, texts and emails, SIM swap fraud, Fake investment schemes, AI voice clone and deepfake scams, QR code phishing, Romance scams. What should I do first if I've been scammed in South Africa? Call your bank's fraud line immediately so it can stop payments and block your cards or banking app. Report the crime at your nearest SAPS police station and ask for a case number. Who do scammers pretend to be in South Africa? Official warnings mention Banks and bank fraud departments, Bank officials and executives, Company CEOs and suppliers, Microsoft and other tech companies. ## Official sources and further reading Figures and warnings on this page come from these official sources. - [Annual Crime Statistics 2024](https://www.sabric.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CRIME-STATISTICS-REPORT-2024.pdf) (South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC)) - [SABRIC Annual Crime Statistics 2024 media statement](https://www.sabric.co.za/media-statement-sabric-annual-crime-statistics-2024/) (South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC)) - [How to Stay Safe](https://www.sabric.co.za/how-to-stay-safe/) (South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC)) - [AI Scammers Are Fooling South Africans, Here's How to Stay Safe](https://www.sabric.co.za/ai-scammers-are-fooling-south-africans-heres-how-to-stay-safe/) (South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC))