-
An image depicting a scam alert.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued a warning about a scam involving fake letters that appear to be coming from the police.
Fraudulent letters that bear the SAPS logo, names and contact details of senior SAPS officers are being sent to recipients via WhatsApp in order to deceive them into sharing their personal details.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda van Wyk has urged the public not to respond to these messages or provide any personal information such as ID numbers, addresses, or banking details.
“The scammers use this information to deceive recipients into sharing personal details under false pretenses. The content of the letters is often tailored according to the victim’s location, with changes made to names, addresses, and contact persons to make the communication appear authentic.”
“In certain cases, these WhatsApp messages are preceded by phone calls from individuals posing as police officials, who falsely claim that criminal cases have been opened against the victim. The SAPS urges the public not to respond to these messages or provide any personal information such as ID numbers, addresses, or banking details,” adds Van Wyk.
#sapsHQ #SAPS cautions public about scammers using SAPS details.
These fake letters, often distributed via WhatsApp, bear the SAPS logo and contain the names, contact details of senior SAPS officers, and, in some instances, the addresses of SAPS offices. The scammers use… pic.twitter.com/gEEKdtiiVB
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) April 10, 2025
