Thursday, 22 October 2026 ⚠️ Real Incident

Scammers Impersonate Officials to Steal Savings from Seniors

A 77-year-old retired nurse lost over $400,000 (about R6,549,040) after scammers impersonated trade officials and undercover police officers. The cyber criminal group convinced her to hand over boxes of her savings over seven weeks.

What happened

A 77-year-old widow was targeted by a team of cyber scammers over a seven-week period. A man impersonating a government official led the operation and convinced her to give up her money. On three occasions, men claiming to be undercover agents visited her home in person and left with boxes of her cash.

How it worked

Scammers first contact victims remotely and pretend to be official government agents or consumer protection officers. They gain trust and create urgency around the victim's money. They then direct the victim to withdraw funds, sending impersonators directly to the victim's house to collect boxes of cash.

How to protect yourself

• Never transfer or hand over money to anyone claiming it will protect your account.
• Refuse to pay anyone who demands payment using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
• Contact your bank's fraud line or the South African Police Service on 10111 if an official asks for cash.

Source: CNET