The South African Police Service (SAPS) has urged members of the public to remain vigilant when receiving urgent requests for financial assistance from friends or family, particularly those involving cash send services or similar money transfer platforms.
SAPS says criminals are increasingly gaining unauthorised access to individuals’ mobile phones and messaging accounts. Once inside these platforms, they impersonate victims and contact people in their networks, often claiming to be in an emergency and requesting immediate financial help.
In many cases, victims are pressured into sending money via cash send services, which are difficult to trace or reverse once the transaction has been completed.
The police have advised the public not to act on such messages without first verifying their authenticity. Members of the public are encouraged to confirm requests by calling the person directly or using another trusted form of communication.
SAPS further cautioned people to be wary of urgent or emotionally charged messages asking for money, and to avoid sending funds to unknown or unverified recipients.
The police service says increased awareness and caution can help prevent communities from falling victim to these types of scams.
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