As South Africans return from the festive season, many households are confronting the financial pressures of a new year.
For thousands of families, January brings registration fees, textbook purchases and accommodation deposits for students entering universities and colleges.
It is revealed that amid the excitement, fraudsters are exploiting the heightened need for cash, preying on vulnerable consumers.
“Continuing from Black Friday and the Festive Season, this is one of the busiest times for scammers,” warns Manie van Schalkwyk, CEO of the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS). “The combination of high expenses and urgent financial needs makes people more susceptible to scams.”
Fraudsters often target those seeking quick financial solutions, offering fast loans with guaranteed approval, regardless of credit history. Victims are typically asked to pay upfront administration or processing fees. Once the payment is made, the scammers disappear, or worse, harvest personal information to commit identity theft and open accounts in the victim’s name.
• Offers of large loans with no credit checks
• Requests for pre-payment
• Pressure to act quickly before the “deal” expires
• Demands for excessive personal information
“Always remember: if the offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is,” cautions Van Schalkwyk.
Bursary and Scholarship Scams
Education is highly valued in South Africa, and many families view bursaries or scholarships as critical financial lifelines. Scammers exploit this by charging application fees or promising guaranteed acceptance. Victims can lose significant sums while inadvertently sharing sensitive personal information.
• No academic or financial criteria required to qualify
• Requests for upfront payments to process applications
• Being contacted about bursaries you never applied for
• Offers to assist with applications or late submissions
• Sponsors or bursaries that cannot be verified online
“These scams prey on hope and ambition. Families must be cautious when approached with unsolicited offers,” says Van Schalkwyk.
Beyond tuition and registration, parents also face the cost of laptops, uniforms, textbooks, sporting equipment, and furniture.
Many turn to online marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace, for affordable second-hand or refurbished items. However, social media has become a breeding ground for fraudsters using social engineering tactics.
Scammers often create fake profiles, build trust with victims, and present “unbelievable deals.” Once payment is made, the goods never arrive, or victims are redirected to phishing sites designed to steal card details.
“These scams are particularly dangerous because they exploit trust. Consumers must always verify sellers and avoid insecure payment channels,” explains Van Schalkwyk.
Saturday Star