Wednesday, 9 September 2026 ⚠️ Real Incident

Protecting Yourself from Impersonation and Investment Scams

Scammers target older South Africans by pretending to be banks, SARS, or distressed relatives [1-3]. They use polite messages or urgent threats to trick people into sending money [2-4].

What happened

Criminals call or message older adults while pretending to be trusted institutions like banks, SARS, or SASSA [2, 3]. They claim pensions are frozen or offer fake investment schemes with guaranteed returns [3, 4]. These fraudsters exploit respect for authority, emotional attachments, and financial worries [2-5]. As a result, many seniors lose savings to deceptive callers [1, 4, 6].

How it worked

First, fraudsters reach out using a polite phone call or WhatsApp message to gain trust [2]. Next, they create panic by claiming your bank account is blocked or promising unrealistic financial returns [3, 4]. Then, they demand immediate action or money transfers before you can think clearly [3, 4]. Finally, they take advantage of social isolation so you do not double-check with anyone else [5, 7, 8].

How to protect yourself

• Do a simple Google search to verify or research the service provider [9].
• Call the official institution directly to confirm any requests received [9].
• Stay connected with trusted family, friends, or neighbours before acting [9, 10].

Source: Sunday Tribune