Beware of Fake Police Letters warns SAPS
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is cautioning the public about a phishing scam in which criminals misuse the SAPS name and insignia to deceive unsuspecting citizens into handing over money or disclosing personal information.
“Fake letters are distributed, often via WhatsApp, that bear the SAPS logo and the names of real senior officers and police stations in order to appear credible,” the SAPS said in a statement on Tuesday.
In some instances, the alleged fraudsters fabricate non-existent police stations in their fraudulent correspondence. The police also confirmed that no police station exists in Green Point, Cape Town.
“In many cases, victims also receive intimidating phone calls from individuals posing as police officials, falsely claiming that a criminal case has been opened against them. Victims are then pressured to ‘pay’ a fee to make the case disappear.”
The SAPS reminds community members that the organisation will never:
• Demand payment to cancel or withdraw a case
• Communicate with the public via WhatsApp or video calls
Safety precautions
The public has been urged to not respond to suspicious calls, letters, or messages. The police is also calling on the public not to share or confirm personal details such as ID numbers, addresses, or banking details.
Additionally, people are urged to not pay money to anyone claiming to be a police officer in exchange for cancelling a case.
Anyone with information that may assist in tracing and locating those involved in the scam is urged to contact their nearest police station, call Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or leave an anonymous tip-off via the MySAPS App. –
