South Africa is experiencing a surge in impersonation fraud, with Nedbank and Standard Bank issuing urgent warnings to their customers to stay vigilant against scam attempts. Scammers are using sophisticated tactics such as caller ID spoofing, fake emails, and AI-generated voices to impersonate bank officials and city officials, aiming to steal personal and financial information.
Nedbank’s Warning:
Nedbank has highlighted a disturbing trend where fraudsters pose as their fraud department, claiming suspicious transactions or debit orders. They register their numbers as “Nedbank Investigations” to appear legitimate and ask customers to change their online IDs or share OTPs. Nedbank emphasizes that their staff will never ask customers to share passwords or OTPs, and customers should never do so. If contacted about a transaction, customers are advised to simply confirm whether the transaction is theirs without sharing any secrets.
Standard Bank’s Alert:
Standard Bank reports an increase in scammers using AI voices and emails to mimic bank officials. These scammers often reference personal details—like your birthday or address—to build credibility during fake calls about suspicious activity. Once panic sets in, victims are pressured to transfer funds, scan QR codes, or share sensitive information, including OTPs and voucher codes.
City of Cape Town’s Warning:
The City of Cape Town also warns residents about scammers posing as municipal officials. In recent cases, residents received WhatsApp messages and phone calls claiming their electricity would be disconnected due to unpaid bills, prompting immediate payments into fake bank accounts or e-wallets. The city clarifies that official notifications are only made through approved channels, and no official will request payments via WhatsApp or social media.
How To Protect Yourself:
- Never share passwords, OTPs, or personal details with anyone claiming to be from your bank or city officials.
- Be cautious of calls or messages asking for urgent payments or personal info.
- Confirm suspicious requests by calling your bank directly using official numbers.
- Remember, banks and municipalities will never ask you to share secrets or make payments through unofficial channels.
Stay alert, educate your loved ones—especially the elderly—and report any scam attempts to authorities. Protecting yourself from impersonation fraud is crucial in today’s digital age.