New police scam in South Africa

A woman from Bloemfontein recorded her interaction with a scammer posing as a police officer who demanded a bribe to dispose of evidence in an ongoing case against her, the City Press reports.

This follows several banks, such as Capitec and Discovery Bank, and the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS), warning against such scams.

However, unlike these scams where targets are told they have been charged with a bogus crime, this woman was contacted regarding an ongoing case against her.

This suggests the attackers were given access to her case file by corrupt police officers.

The woman, whose name has been withdrawn, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in September last year, was taken to a nearby hospital for blood tests, and spent the night in Bainsvlei Police Station.

She then appeared in the magistrate’s court, where the case was provisionally withdrawn awaiting the test results.

A few days later, a “Captain Mosela” contacted her, saying that the blood tests had returned a “high” count and that the case could continue.

However, he said that this type of offence could have severe repercussions should she want to leave the country or retain her licence and asked for R2,500 to dispose of the evidence.

She said she immediately felt compelled to borrow the money, but reconsidered and got an attorney.

After she was contacted by the Hawks, they encouraged her to record a conversation with Captain Mosela, which she did and subsequently blocked him.

Her attorney, Adriaan Janse van Rensburg, told the City Press that he had several clients who had experienced similar scams, with people charged with drunk driving being common targets.

Janse van Rensburg said that the harassment fills the victim with fear because the attackers have their personal information.

National police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said they are aware of such scams, and some attackers even video call targets to convince them they are police officers.

She added that she knows one victim who paid as much as R15,000 to these scammers.

Scammers posing as other authorities

Scammers are also impersonating the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) in an elaborate scam through which they claim that your phone number has been used in banking fraud and to harass people.

A MyBroadband reader recently received a forged letter sent to them on an Icasa letterhead and featuring an electronic signature for Icasa chairperson Mothibi Ramusi.

Despite sporting a signature allegedly belonging to Ramusi, the letter is from “The Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, 350 Witch-Hazel Avenue”.

“This letter is to inform you that your mobile number has sent a large number of illegal advertisements and harassing text messages to the public,” the letter, fraught with typos, reads.

“We have received a report Reference Number (CAS-207/02/2025) from Pretoria Moot Police Station to deactivate all your numbers within two hours.”

The fraudsters instructed the reader to get a clarification letter from the Pretoria Moot Police Station through the constable to avoid the disconnection.

“You have to send us the clarification letter from Pretoria Moot Police Station to keep all your mobile numbers active,” the letter reads.

The reader also received a call from someone claiming to represent Icasa, informing them of the issue.

They told the target that they could connect them directly to a constable at the Pretoria Moot Police Station to confirm the case.

Curious, the MyBroadband reader asked to be put through. The “constable” then said that in addition to harassment, their number had been used in banking fraud.

After telling the scammers to take a hike, the reader informed us about this new scam tactic.

While Icasa provided no feedback, the Pretoria Moot Police Station confirmed to MyBroadband that no case with the reference number CAS-207/02/2025 exists at the station.