CAPE TOWN – Fraudsters are using the Western Cape Provincial Commissioner’s office number to deceive victims into believing they are dealing with legitimate police officers.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued an urgent warning to the public about a sophisticated telephone scam where criminals clone the official office number of the Western Cape Provincial Commissioner to defraud unsuspecting victims.
According to Colonel André Traut, Western Cape Police media spokesperson, the fraudsters are using the cloned number 021 417 7148 to impersonate police officers and trick people into paying large sums of money to avoid arrest or prosecution.
How the scam works
The scammers contact victims, sometimes appearing in police uniform during video calls, and claim that the person is linked to a parcel allegedly containing contraband. Using intimidation tactics, they coerce victims into making payments to avoid legal consequences.
The criminals employ caller ID spoofing technology to make their calls appear legitimate, and in some cases, use video calls to enhance their credibility.
While the main focus is on incidents in the Western Cape, similar scams have been reported across South Africa, indicating the widespread nature of this criminal activity.
The police is actively investigating the misuse of the cloned number and related fraudulent activities. They emphasise that legitimate police officials will never demand money in exchange for avoiding arrest or prosecution, and payments will never be requested via telephone or video calls.
The police advise the public to always verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a police officer. If contacted by someone claiming to be from law enforcement, citizens should:
• Never make payments via telephone or video call
• Verify the caller’s identity through official channels
• Report any suspected scam immediately
• Remember that police will never demand money to avoid prosecution
Anyone who suspects they have been targeted by this scam should report it to their nearest police station or call Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
The warning comes as part of the police’s commitment to protecting the community and maintaining public trust in law enforcement.
