New scam sweeps South Africa. This time it’s 'SAPS' calling
The real police will NEVER ask for payments over the phone, even if there are outstanding warrants for your arrest, as they're more likely to visit your home or workplace.
Lester Kiewit speaks to Steven Powell, head of forensics at ENS Africa and to Wendy Pascoe, a private investigator and CEO of Pascoe Investigations.
Are you getting calls from people claiming to be with the South African Police Service (SAPS), with arrest warrants under your name?
This is the latest scam doing the rounds in South Africa.
How does it work?
A fraudster will call you claiming to work at SAPS, urgently asking for details relating to outstanding warrants or other crimes you did not commit.
The scammer will offer to 'sort it out for you' or 'make your case go away' with an online payment transaction. All you have to do is give them your personal and banking details...
Powell says people often fall for this because there's a fear of getting arrested.
"Fraud syndicates use a variety of different scams to con people out of their money through fear, saying they might be arrested."
- Steven Powell, Head of Forensics - ENS Africa
"Don't fall for these and get involved in active corruption, because it has massive consequences."
- Steven Powell, Head of Forensics - ENS Africa
If you do fall for this scam, Powell notes that it's important to act within the first two hours by going to the police station with your ID, requesting to see the outstanding warrants the person on the phone claimed you had and sort it out right there, if there is anything to sort out.
You can also go to your bank with the account details. The bank will match the account details, and connect it to SAPS, or the fraudster.
"The first two hours after a fraudulent payment is critical. If you contact the bank immediately to freeze the account, they will ask corresponding banks to freeze payments... but you have to act quickly."
- Steven Powell, Head of Forensics - ENS Africa
Pascoe notes that SAPS will never ask for any payments or demand payments over the phone, even if there are outstanding warrants for your arrest.
The police will more likely visit your home or workplace if there is an issue.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.