| SAPS Western Cape warns public of telephone scam involving cloned Provincial Commissioners office number | |
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| Date Published: | 2026/01/09 |
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Media Statement CAPE TOWN - The South African Police Service in the Western Cape warns members of the public of an ongoing scam in which fraudsters are cloning the official office telephone number of the Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, 021 417 7148, to deceive and intimidate victims. In this scam, the caller ID appears to reflect the SAPS provincial office number, creating the false impression that the call originates from SAPS. Victims are then contacted, in some instances via video call, by an individual impersonating a police officer and dressed in police uniform. The victim is falsely accused of being linked to a parcel allegedly intercepted at an airport containing contraband. Through intimidation and threats of arrest or prosecution, victims are coerced into paying large sums of money to “resolve” the matter. This scam is not limited to the Western Cape and similar cases have been reported across the country. The compromise and misuse of the above-mentioned telephone number are currently under investigation, along with the reported cases linked to this scam. SAPS emphasises that:
The public is urged to remain vigilant and to immediately report any encounter with suspected scammers to their nearest police station or to Crime Stop on 08600 10111. SAPS remains committed to investigating these incidents and protecting communities from criminal exploitation. Ends
Enquiries:
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService
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