In response to a significant global uptick in sophisticated fraud, the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) has launched a new public awareness campaign, “Just Say Goodbye,” aimed squarely at the threat of voice phishing.
The campaign was detailed by Roy Retief, Head of Operations at the SAFPS, who explained that criminals are increasingly moving away from just emails and are now calling potential victims directly. These fraudsters impersonate trusted entities like banks, cellphone providers, law enforcement, and IT support to trick individuals into divulging sensitive personal information or sending money.
“Fraudsters are no longer just sending suspicious emails. They’re calling you directly using sophisticated tactics to steal your money,” Retief stated. “This International Fraud Awareness Week, the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service urges everyone to use a simple defense: Just say goodbye.”
Retief emphasized that the core message of the campaign is simplicity itself. With the public often confused by the myriad of complex scams, the “Just Say Goodbye” advice provides a clear and immediate course of action for anyone receiving a suspicious call.
“If you are getting these sorts of vishing calls… the part to remember is if at all suspicious, please just say goodbye and end the call,” he advised.
The Head of Operations confirmed that this surge in voice phishing is not just a local issue but a global trend, with similar patterns being reported by international counterparts in the UK, Australia, and Europe. He explained that the “fraud universe” is constantly evolving, with criminals quickly adapting their methods as public awareness of existing scams grows.
Technology is a major driver of this evolution, Retief noted. He highlighted the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in creating deepfakes used to impersonate celebrities and promote fraudulent investment schemes. Furthermore, he issued a strong warning as the festive season and Black Friday approach, alerting consumers to a rise in spoofed websites and social media adverts offering “ridiculously good” deals on travel and electronics.
“If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Retief cautioned, urging consumers to verify offers directly on the official websites and social media feeds of legitimate businesses.
A significant challenge in combating fraud, according to Retief, is the “embarrassment factor” that prevents victims from coming forward. He stressed that these scams are highly sophisticated and appealed to the public to share their experiences and the SAFPS’s educational materials with family and friends to build collective resilience.
To facilitate reporting and information sharing, the SAFPS launched the Yima platform two years ago. At the website yima.org.za, consumers can anonymously report attempted or successful scams. This data is then shared with the SAFPS’s member organizations—including major banks, telcos, retailers, and insurers—to help prevent further fraudulent activities.
For consumers who have already been affected, particularly through lost or stolen devices containing sensitive information, Retief outlined a clear response plan. The first step is to immediately contact one’s bank to de-link the compromised device from banking profiles.
He also promoted the SAFPS’s free Protective Registration service, available at safps.org.za. This service, which involves a digital verification process with the Department of Home Affairs, places an alert on a consumer’s profile with all member organizations, warning them that the individual’s identity may have been compromised and that extra verification is required for future transactions.
“It provides an alert to all our member organizations… to say this consumer’s identity has been compromised in some other way. Please just take extra care to ensure that you’re dealing with a genuine consumer,” Retief said.
The SAFPS continues to engage with major technology firms and international partners to stay abreast of the latest fraudulent schemes, reinforcing its mission to protect South African consumers through education, awareness, and proactive support services.