Over recent years, many South Africans have lost money after being taken in by advanced fee scams. A progressive fee scam is a hoax where you are promised access to a large sum of money as long as you pay a deposit first. Someone may trick you into paying an advanced fee to access a loan, an inheritance, an investment opportunity, or money you are told you have won in a competition. Criminals may also ask you for help transferring money out of the country.
How common are advanced fee scams?
Over five years, more than 5,000 advanced fee scams were reported to the South African Reserve Bank. 22% of South Africans using e-banking services were taken in by scams in one year. Almost a third of these were advanced fees or 419 scams. A 419 scam is a type of advanced fee scam. In a 419 scam, someone is encouraged to send money to a stranger in exchange for a larger sum that never materializes.
Common scamming techniques
You may be scammed if you are asked to pay a fee to access money or some financial services. Once a scammer receives your payment, chances are you will never hear from them again – unless they ask for more cash. Scammers use a range of channels to seek out their victims. These include email, text, phone calls, WhatsApp, and social media.
Fake loans, competitions, and emails
Scammers may attempt to dupe you by promising you a large loan with no credit checks or a meager interest rate. They may tell you that you’ve won a competition you don’t remember entering or may inform you that someone you don’t know has left you an inheritance. Some scammers pretend to represent well-known companies. Famous lender Wonga’s brand image was used without permission by criminals several years ago as the front for an email and sms scheme of authentic-looking messages that look just like genuine correspondence. However, when you check the email address, it may look strange or bogus.
Emails can seem very authentic.
Another tell-tale sign is when a scammer refers to you as ‘sir’ or ‘madam’ rather than your name. However, some scammers will address you by your name. The correspondence you receive may also have spelling and grammatical errors, though this isn’t always the case. Some posts can seem very authentic indeed, which is why so many people fall for it.
What you need to do
Ignoring any correspondence you receive is vital if you suspect someone is trying to scam you. If you believe someone has targeted you with an advanced fee scam, contact the police by sending a message to 419scams@saps.org.za. Don’t even respond to say you believe the message is bogus – inform the police immediately instead.
Scamming during the pandemic
Criminals have been targeting unsuspecting public members via several methods during the global pandemic. In 2020, British banks revealed some of the most common techniques being used by criminals recently. Scammers have recently been sending out fake government emails offering Covid-19 support grants. However, links inside the emails may steal your personal and financial information. Emails offering COVID-19 relief fund access have also been circulating. Authentic-looking emails offering reductions in household bills have also been in circulation. Again, these are designed to obtain your personal and financial information.
New scams emerging
Many people have received fake emails telling them they have contacted someone who has contracted the virus. Once someone clicks a link inside the email, they may be taken to a fake website and asked for personal information. The website may also infect your computer, tablet, or phone with malware. Fake adverts for products like hand sanitizer and face masks have also been found online. Once the victim sends their payment for these items, they receive nothing.
Staying on top of the latest online scams is essential to avoid being parted with your money. New scams are being launched all the time, so remain as vigilant as you possibly can.
