SAPS Warns Public About Rising Scam Using Police Credentials

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued an urgent warning to the public about an ongoing scam that is making the rounds across several provinces. Fraudsters are using the SAPS brand and identity to trick individuals into revealing personal information or paying money under false pretences.

According to SAPS, the scam involves fake letters and WhatsApp messages that appear to come from legitimate police officers. These fraudulent communications often carry the official SAPS logo and include the names and contact details of actual SAPS officers and legitimate police stations. In some cases, criminals even use the names of fictitious police stations to mislead victims.

The scam typically unfolds in two stages. Victims first receive a phone call from someone pretending to be a SAPS officer, who falsely claims that a criminal case has been opened against them. This is followed by a WhatsApp message containing a fake letter with fabricated details matching the victim’s region, making the threat appear more authentic.

Victims are then pressured to make a payment in order to make the supposed case “disappear.”

SAPS ISSUES CLEAR GUIDANCE:

To protect yourself and your community, SAPS urges the public to:

Ignore all suspicious WhatsApp messages or unsolicited phone calls claiming to be from SAPS
Never share or confirm any personal information such as ID numbers, addresses, or banking details
Do not send money to anyone claiming to be from the police
Report any such incidents at your nearest police station immediately
SAPS emphasized that they do not communicate with the public via WhatsApp or video calls. Any official communication is conducted through proper channels.

HOW TO REPORT

If you have received or responded to any suspicious messages or calls of this nature, please visit your nearest police station to report the scam and open a case.

For the latest public safety updates and scam alerts, follow SAPS on official social media platforms or visit their website.