SARS issues new scam warning: How to protect yourself
If you receive this message from 'SARS', it may be a scam.
Online scams are becoming more sophisticated by the day, which is why you need to remain on high alert at all times.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) recently issued a warning about a new method criminals are using to scam unsuspecting taxpayers.
"Beware of fake emails or SMS claiming you owe SARS money, often titled 'Settlement Notification' or 'Final Demand,' which urge payment via links or to fraudulent bank accounts," SARS said.
The 'SARS message' looks legitimate and includes a document that replicates official communications, including format and colours.
Some messages will include links to help you make quick payments.
"SARS never sends links other than SARS links in SMS/emails for payments, never asks for banking details directly, and does not accept direct deposits into personal accounts."
The revenue service has been ramping up efforts to collect outstanding taxes, which is why the scam is on the rise.
READ: SARS is coming for influencers in 2026. Here’s what content creators must know
With e-filing expected to start in a few months, we will likely see an increase in SARS scams.
These types of scams are not new, and South Africans are constantly having to use their critical thinking skills to protect themselves against them.
Just last month, East Coast Radio presenter Carol Ofori was almost scammed not once, but three times in one week.
Her bizarre scam story included her virtual bank card being cloned. The person tried to use the card 3-4 times before she managed to cancel it.
She also received a call about criminals trying to do a SIM swap on her phone. It was the scammers calling themselves!
They tried to get her to switch off her phone so the problem could be resolved.
As if that wasn't bad enough, she received an email that appeared to come from her personal account. The email included a document attachment, which Carol opened.
When Carol opened the document, she received an alarming message. "The document attachment was a letter that reads: 'Hi, I am a hacker," she said.
The alleged hacker claimed that they had infiltrated her phone and had found explicit pictures of her that would soon be released for the world to see.
The scammer demanded that she pay $2,000 (R23,000) into a Bitcoin account in 48 hours - or else!
But the joke was on them, because as Carol put it: "I ain't doing none of that."
Lesson learned: Don't click on suspicious links.... uhm, but also if you don't take nude pictures, you won't easily be fooled. (sips tea).
Popular online scams in South Africa
There are many other scams doing the rounds in Mzansi, and AI is making them much harder to spot.
Celebrities such as Connie Ferguson have also been targeted. One scammer used a video the actress shared on social media to make WhatsApp video calls in her name.
The scammers even tried to call Connie. When she answered the call, Connie saw herself on screen. The imposter hung up the call after a few seconds.
She then received a WhatsApp message: "Hopefully you saw me right?"
The last time Connie checked, she did not have an identical twin sister, so there was no way that she would be calling herself.
"Do not easily part with money you worked so hard for! If it’s too good to be true, it usually is! Have you never asked yourself why they are the ones that always have to call you and you can’t call them back?" she warned.
Other popular scams in South Africa to watch out for:
How to protect yourself against the latest SARS scam
SARS has issued four tips that will ensure you don't fall victim to the 'Settlement Notification' and 'Final Demand' scams.
- Do not click links: Avoid clicking links in emails or attachments (especially .htm or .html files).
- Verify on eFiling: Always check your tax status directly on the official SARS eFiling website.
- Use Proper Payment Channels: Use the pre-registered bank beneficiary on your bank app for payments.
- Report Phishing: Forward suspicious emails to [email protected].
Stay safe, Mzansi!
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
1. Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
2. Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
3. Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet, channel 836.
4. Switch to the audio bouquet on your Openview decoder and browse to channel 606.
5. Listen to us on Amazon Alexa.
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