It speaks volumes of the state of the SA Police Service (SAPS), that police impersonator scams in South Africa are becoming such a threat. The mere fact that citizens in 2024 should be as untrusting of the police as they are criminals is another example up the hyper-vigilance needed to live in Mzansi.
Nevertheless, reports of police impersonator scams in South Africa are on the rise, and here’s what you need to know to not fall foul of them. According to The Citizen, fake police are extorting money from citizens by playing off this dirty-cop persona. Essentially, they will make up a fake charge against you, then promise they can make the case ‘disappear’ for a not-so-small fee. If you don’t agree to pay up, you guessed it, the brazen criminals get violent.
POLICE IMPERSONATOR SCAMS IN SOUTH AFRICA
The SAPS says if you ever receive a call from a police officer promising to help you make a case disappear, you must hang up immediately. SAPS investigators are looking into numerous police impersonator scams in South Africa, with the large majority taking place in Johannesburg.
Another popular scam is contacting the victims of hijackings and/or motor vehicle theft. This works if the victims have already received a case number from the SAPS. Which, presumably, means there’s an inside connection supplying case numbers to the scammers.
BOGUS OFFICERS
As SAPS Captain Mpho Tshetlhane explains to The Citizen, bogus police officers phone the victim directly. They allege to have recovered the hijacked vehicle in another province. They then ask the victim to deposit money in an account to them to help facilitate the return.
Trust no one. If you suspect you’re being scammed, do everything you can to verify the caller’s identity. Ask for the officer’s name, rank, and police station. Then contact the station to verify this. Moreover, say you will meet them there in-person. Of course, a genuine SAPS officer will never demand cash in exchange for services.
NEVER STOP FOR POLICE
Furthermore, the SAPS warns motorists to watch out for fake police officers who try stop you. These police impersonator scams in South Africa have uniformed men driving vehicles fitted with blue lights. You have the right to see any police officer’s official certificate and name badge. Failure to produce these in a traffic stop is an immediate red flag, and you are entitled to drive off. If you feel unsafe, drive directly to the nearest police station for assistance.
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Have you been contacted/encountered one of these new police impersonator scams in South Africa? If so, be sure to share your thoughts with our audience in the comments section below. And don’t forget to follow us @TheSANews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest updates.
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