Fake SAPS Officers Scamming Victims On WhatsApp

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued an urgent warning regarding a new scam circulating in Gauteng, where fraudsters are posing as police officers to scam victims via WhatsApp.

The District Commissioner of Tshwane, Major General Samuel Thine, expressed deep concern over this criminal trend that has seen scammers falsely claiming to represent SAPS Pretoria Moot detectives.

WhatsApp Scam Unfolds

The scam typically begins with the suspects contacting victims and claiming to be from a state agency. They inform the victim that their cellphone has been used in illegal activities, such as scamming others. The scammers then offer assistance, but only if the victim agrees to pay a so-called “standby prosecutor” a sum of R10,000 to resolve the matter.

In some cases, the scammers hand the phone over to accomplices, who impersonate detectives from SAPS Pretoria Moot.

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These fake detectives then threaten the victim with imminent arrest, further coercing them into paying the demanded sum. The scam is only uncovered when victims contact the police station and realise they have been defrauded.

Here’s a video of one of the scammers trying to scam an unsuspecting citizen:

How to Protect Yourself

SAPS is urging the public to remain vigilant and not to fall for these fraudulent tactics. The service advises anyone who receives a suspicious call claiming to be from SAPS to request a case number, the name of the police station where the case is registered, and then contact the police station directly to verify the information.

The official contact details for SAPS stations can be found on the SAPS website or through the MySAPS App, which is available for download on smartphones.

SAPS Pretoria Moot can be reached at the following numbers:

• (012) 331 360
• (012) 331 3598

The police also remind the public that offering or paying money to make cases “disappear” is a form of bribery, which is a criminal offense. SAPS encourages everyone to report any fraudulent activity to prevent further victimisation and to help bring scammers to justice.

Stay alert, stay safe. If you suspect you’ve been targeted by scammers, report the incident to your local SAPS station immediately.

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