Part 1: Spot the scams
Digital transformation opens many doors, but it also brings new opportunities for scammers. That’s why we’ve started a new series with RSG, every second Monday, to help you stay safe. Join our own Jean Rossouw: Head of CSI and Financial Education and Nick Harris: Head of Financial Crime, as they share practical advice on how to protect yourself.
Part 2: Investment scams
Scammers are clever and use convincing tricks to get people’s money – from Ponzi schemes to fake crypto deals. In this episode, Jean Rossouw: Head of CSI and Financial Education and Nick Harris: Head of Financial Crime explain how these scams work and how you can spot the warning signs before it’s too late.
Part 3: Facebook Marketplace scams
Facebook Marketplace is a bargain hunter’s dream, but it’s also becoming a playground for fraudsters. From fake ads and payment tricks to risky meet-ups, the dangers are very real. Our very own Jean Rossouw: Head of CSI and Financial Education and Nick Harris: Head of Financial Crime, share tips to help you stay safe and avoid falling into online fraud traps.
Part 4: Bank impersonator scams
Impersonation scams are among the fastest-growing crimes in the country. Fraudsters pretend to be from your bank, using fake calls, emails, SMSs and investment offers to get your money and personal details. Jean Rossouw: Head of CSI and Financial Education and Nick Harris: Head of Financial Crime, explain how these scams work and how you can protect yourself.
Part 5: ATM scams
Even with digital fraud on the rise, old-fashioned scams at ATMs are still a big risk. Criminals often target people when they’re distracted, sometimes even pretending to offer help. Jean Rossouw: Head of CSI and Financial Education and Nick Harris: Head of Financial Crime, remind us why it’s so important to stay alert whenever you use an ATM.
Part 6: Job scams
Rising living costs and a tough economy are increasing vulnerability to scams. Fraudsters know that people are looking for ways to supplement their income and post fake ads on social media, luring people into paying upfront fees and making promises of digital work that never materialises.
Jean Rossouw: Head of CSI and Financial Education and Nick Harris: Head of Financial Crime, share insights on how these scams work and what you can do to stay safe.
Part 7: Impersonation fraud
Impersonation fraud is one of the fastest-growing scams in South Africa. Scammers use trust, urgency and familiarity to trick people and businesses into sharing personal or financial information.
They often pretend to be someone you know or trust – like an official from SARS, a bank representative, a friend on WhatsApp, a courier service or even a colleague through email.
Our Head of CSI and Financial Education, Jean Rossouw and our Head of Financial Crime, Nick Harris, unpack what impersonation fraud looks like, how to spot it early and what to do if something doesn’t feel right.
Part 8: Money mules
Ever wondered how fraudsters manage to stay under the radar? How they hide their identity and make money disappear without a trace?
This episode unpacks the murky world of money mules – ordinary people used to move stolen cash, often without realising it.
Our Head of CSI and Financial Education, Jean Rossouw and our Head of Financial Crime, Nick Harris, explain how criminals recruit targets, why so many fall for these scams and how to spot the red flags before it's too late.
Part 9: Holiday shopping season
Is that online deal too good to be true? With Black Friday and the holiday season in full swing, it’s more important than ever to stay alert to scammers and online fraud.
Criminals are creating fake websites, running scam ads and using social media to mislead people – all with the aim of stealing money and personal information.
Our Head of CSI and Financial Education, Jean Rossouw, and our Head of Financial Crime, Nick Harris, share the biggest risks to watch for this season – what to avoid, how to shop safely and what to do if you fall victim to a scam.
Part 10: Don't fall for fake apps
With the festive season well and truly here, social media is buzzing with ‘unbeatable’ deals. From cheap flights and holiday stays to offers that feel almost unreal. The catch? You need to download an app to qualify. In many cases, this is the start of a complicated scam that infects your device and puts your personal data and money at risk.
Our Head of CSI and Financial Education, Jean Rossouw, and our Head of Financial Crime, Nick Harris, explain how these malicious apps work and also share warning signs to look out for when downloading any new app.
Part 11: Don’t fall for digital investment scams
South Africans are increasingly falling victim to scams disguised as investments. How do scammers use social media and other platforms to convince people? And why do some offers seem legitimate at first, even paying out small amounts to gain trust?
Our Head of CSI and Financial Education, Jean Rossouw, and our Head of Financial Crime, Nick Harris, share how to spot the warning signs.
Part 12: How to spot fake ads
Criminals post fake ads for high demand items, services or accommodation, often for unusually low prices. They use platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Instagram, TikTok Shop and community buy-and-sell groups.
But how do scammers do it? They use stolen professional photos, fake business logos and made-up stories to look legitimate. These scams target people who are just searching and those who are posting requests – for example, those looking for holiday accommodation.
Our Head of CSI and Financial Education, Jean Rossouw, and our Head of Financial Crime, Nick Harris, share practical advice and tips to help you spot the red flags and stay safe.
Part 13: Fake voucher scams
Nearly two-thirds of reported fraud cases don’t just rely on technical tricks – they’re also driven by social manipulation. Free voucher scams are a good example.
Scammers pose as friendly promoters wearing official-looking uniforms and offering free vouchers or loyalty programme sign ups. While it all looks legitimate, they're actually using the 'free voucher' as bait to register your banking app on their phone or make transactions on yours. By creating urgency and guiding you step by step, they trick people into approving in-app requests in real time, while you think they're activating the voucher.
Because these scams play on trust, pressure and familiar habits, they often happen right in front of you – without you realising what’s actually going on.
Our Head of CSI and Financial Education, Jean Rossouw and Head of Financial Crime, Nick Harris, share practical tips to help you spot the red flags and stay safe.
Part 14: Spoofing and smishing scams
Every day, scammers try to trick South Africans by using caller ID spoofing and fake SMSs.
A call might look like it’s coming from your bank or even the police. The caller will pressure you to share personal details, your banking information or your OTP. You may also get an SMS with a link asking you to pay a courier fee or update your FICA details to keep your account active. These links lead to fake websites designed to steal your information.
These scams rely on fear and urgency. They want you to act before you think.
In this episode, Jean Rossouw, Head of Financial Education and Nick Harris, Head of Financial Crime Prevention, unpack how these scams work and what you can do to protect yourself.
Part 15: Spot digital scams
Fraudsters have used emotions like trust, fear and hope to mislead people for centuries. Today, they use digital channels, social manipulation and data leaks to do it faster and at a larger scale.
In this episode, Jean Rossouw, our Head of Financial Education and Nick Harris, Head of Financial Crime Prevention, explain how to spot the warning signs early on and share practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your money.
Part 16: Stay safe at every life stage
Fraud doesn’t wait for the ‘right’ person or moment. It targets you where you are, at any stage.
Scammers change their approach to match your life. Whether you’re studying, starting a family, building your career or retired – they know how to create urgency, play on emotion and use digital tricks to get what they want.
In this episode, we unpack how these scams show up at every stage of life and what you can do to stay in control.
Join Jean Rossouw, our Head of Financial Education, and Nick Harris, Head of Financial Crime Prevention, as they share clear and practical tips.
