Vodacom scam warning

Vodacom has warned about scammers posing as Vodacom Rewards and attempting to phish sensitive information from the mobile operator’s customers.

While the mobile operator runs promotions through its Vodapay app, it says it will never ask customers for payment to secure their prize.

“Beware of scammers posing as Vodacom Rewards. We will never ask for payment to redeem or deliver a prize,” it said in an SMS sent to customers.

“Don’t share personal info or make payments. If you get such a request, it’s a scam.”

Vodacom added that customers can verify suspicious messages or calls by contacting 082135.

The mobile operator runs lucrative competitions through the Vodapay app, giving away cars and paying out between R10,000 and R100,000 in Vodapay Wallet prizes.

Fraudsters are piggy-backing on this with a tailored advance fee scam hoping to snare victims.

Vodacom is taking a strong-handed approach to addressing scam calls on its network through collaboration with industry stakeholders, such as other mobile operators, financial institutions, and the South African Banking Risk Information Centre.

In December 2024, a Vodacom spokesperson told MyBroadband that the mobile operator actively tries to raise awareness regarding scam calls by publishing information on its portal and social media pages to keep customers informed.

They added that Vodacom had implemented machine learning as a tool to identify and block known instances of SMS and voice phishing fraud.

“Any identifiable information that can assist in criminal investigations is shared with law enforcement and other relevant agencies,” they said.

“All implicated mobile numbers are investigated for fraudulent activity, and appropriate action, such as locking them on the Vodacom network, is taken.”

In recent years, South Africans have been increasingly targeted by scams and fraud attempts. Nearly 5% of all attempted digital transactions originating in South Africa in the first half of 2024 were suspected to be fraudulent.

This is according to data from TransUnion, which also cited a survey in which six of every 10 respondents said they were recently targeted by fraud.

Respondents indicated that many attacks arose from the telecoms, financial, and online communities.

Mobile operators that offer SIM swaps, in particular, are vulnerable to their customers being targeted by SIM swap fraud.

The Communication Risk Information Centre’s CEO, Advocate Thokozani Mvelanse, warned about a surge in SIM swap fraud in South Africa towards the end of 2024 and called for more vigilance in the space.

The vulnerability stems from an opt-out system, through which customers must actively reply to the SMS informing them of a SIM swap on their account.

The mobile operator will only cancel the SIM swap if the account holder says no or opts out in time.

This is problematic when customers are travelling internationally without SMS roaming or when they’re in different time zones and aren’t awake to opt out of dodgy SIM swap requests.

If a customer can’t opt out of a fraudulent SIM swap in time, malicious actors can take control of their phone number to intercept sensitive communications like one-time PINs for transactions and banking credentials.

This enables fraudsters to steal funds from bank accounts and commit identity theft.

Both businesses and individual consumers in South Africa are vulnerable to this form of attack.

“This is a direct attack on the trust and security of our digital systems,” said Mvelase.

“The emotional and financial impact on victims is devastating, and the consequences ripple through families, businesses, and the broader economy.”