Scams are becoming more sophisticated and many people fall victim to them. Make sure you protect yourself against future scams.
Steps to take if you have been scammed
Stop all contact with the scammer
Once you realise you are being scammed, do not continue communicating with the scammers. Hang up the phone, and don’t reply to emails or letters. If you have been scammed online, block the scammer from all you devices.
It can be tempting to stay communicating with a scammer in the hope you will get all or some of your money back.
Some scammers target people caught in recent scams, by pretending to be enforcement agencies that can return all of your money for a fee. Reiality is, if you have paid scammers, the chances of recovering your money are zero.
Contact the bank or service you sent money through
If you are the victim of any financial scam contact your bank immediately. They will have a policy in place to deal with fraud.
Click on the links below to learn how to spot and avoid common scams.
South African Fraud Prevention Services (SAFPS)
The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) is offering the South African public a means of protecting themselves against impersonation and identity theft. SAFPS has successfully prevented more than R8 billion in attempted frauds since inception.