The Alarming Rise of Digital Scams in SA

One of the fastest-growing online threats facing South Africans today is the rise of digital scams. According to Statista, as of January 2024, women aged 25 to 34 made up 15.8% of all social media users in South Africa—a slightly higher share than their male counterparts (14.9%) in the same age group. Teenage girls aged 13 to 17 also accounted for 15.8% of social media audiences.

In nearly all age brackets (except 35–44), women represent a significant share of the digital space. This visibility makes them a common focus for scammers, who tailor their tactics based on age, online behavior, and digital activity patterns.

From romance fraud to fake job offers and impersonation schemes, cybercriminals are deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics designed not only to drain bank accounts but also to exploit people’s trust, hopes, and compassion. These scams often leave behind emotional trauma as well as financial loss.

“My darling, I need your help urgently. Please send me money.”

To the untrained eye, a message like this, seemingly from a loved one in distress, can be enough to trigger panic and spur you into transferring money without hesitation.
But for a growing number of South African women, these texts, calls, or urgent pleas often come with far more than financial consequences. They carry the weight of emotional manipulation, betrayal, and lasting psychological scars.

Digital platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are working to raise awareness about a growing threat online, one that puts people at risk in the very spaces they rely on for connection, opportunity, and community.

From fake job offers and impersonation schemes to emotionally manipulative romance and investment scams, cybercriminals are deploying sophisticated tactics designed to exploit women’s trust, ambition, and compassion.

Scams don’t just go after people’s wallets. They exploit their trust, their emotions, and their deepest aspirations. That’s why we are relentlessly advancing our tools, sharpening our detection methods, and expanding education efforts to ensure women and all users are empowered to recognize threats, protect themselves, and reclaim their digital safety.

Among the most common tactics:

• Romance Scams—These often start with a friendly message from someone who seems trustworthy. Scammers invest weeks or months building emotional intimacy before inventing a crisis and requesting money for things like visas, medical bills, or travel. The promised meeting never happens. (Meta warns: if someone you’ve never met in person asks you for money, it’s almost always a scam.)
• Fake Job Offers—Fraudsters lure people with promises of flexible, high-paying jobs via Instagram or WhatsApp. They request “application” or “training” fees, ID documents, or money transfers, then disappear. These scams disproportionately target seekers and recent graduates.
• Impersonation Fraud—Scammers clone the profiles of influencers, nonprofits, or even government officials to promote fake investment schemes, donation drives, or competitions. Their goal is to harvest personal information or trick users into transferring money.

No one should feel embarrassed about falling victim to a scam. Scammers are skilled manipulators, and their tactics are constantly evolving. By normalizing conversations about scams, sharing our experiences, and supporting one another, we can reduce stigma and empower more people to stay safe online.

Look out for:

• Too Good to Be True Profiles—These accounts often appear ideal. Charming, attentive, and quick to express strong emotions. But if they consistently avoid video calls or meeting in person, it’s a sign they may not be who they claim to be.
• Job Offers via DM – Genuine employers don’t offer jobs without a formal process. If someone reaches out via DM promising employment but asks for personal details or payment, it’s likely a scam.
• Urgent Requests for Money – Whether it’s for a visa, a sick family member, or “travel funds,” scammers always create urgency.
• Fake Profiles of Public Figures—Always verify verified accounts and never send money based on DMs, even if the face is familiar. Don’t share your bank details with anyone you do not know and trust.