The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued a warning to the public regarding a scam circulating across multiple provinces.
Fraudsters are using fake letters bearing the SAPS logo to deceive individuals into providing personal information for illicit activities.
According to SAPS, these fraudulent letters are primarily sent via WhatsApp and often include the names and contact details of senior police officers, as well as addresses of SAPS offices, in an attempt to appear legitimate.
The content, names, and locations in the letters are modified depending on the victim’s region to make the scam more convincing.
In some cases, the scam is preceded by phone calls from individuals posing as police officials. These callers falsely inform victims that criminal cases have been opened against them, further pressuring them into sharing their personal details.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and to refrain from disclosing identity numbers or other sensitive information to unknown individuals. SAPS has also clarified that it does not communicate with the public via WhatsApp or video calls.
Anyone who has fallen victim to this scam is encouraged to report the incident at their nearest police station.
The SAPS has shared samples of the fraudulent letters used in the scam:
RT #sapsWC [SCAM ALERT] #SAPS wishes to caution members of the public about a scam that is doing the rounds across various provinces where fake letters bearing the South African Police Service logo are sent to various cellphone users and their personal details required by the… pic.twitter.com/i1w103Lpl3
— SA Police Service
(@SAPoliceService) February 22, 2025
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