Vodacom nails scammers

Vodacom recently warned of scammers posing as official Vodacom Rewards representatives to phish sensitive information from its customers, and the mobile network operator is cracking down on the fraudsters it identified on its network.

A MyBroadband reader informed us of their experience dealing with one of these scammers. One of the highlights from their conversation was that the caller claimed to be Vodacom’s Chief Marketing Officer.

The reader shared three different numbers from which the fraudster had called them, and MyBroadband informed Vodacom and shared the numbers with it.

The mobile network operator has now deleted the numbers from its network and blacklisted the fraudsters’ IMEIs to prevent them from being used to target more customers.

“Vodacom has concluded an investigation into a reported vishing incident, confirming evidence of fraudulent activity involving the reported mobile numbers,” a Vodacom spokesperson said.

“To this end, we have taken swift and decisive action with the three mobile numbers linked to the vishing activities being permanently deleted from our network, and the IMEI numbers of the associated devices have been blacklisted to prevent further misuse.”

The mobile operator is urging its customers to remain vigilant against potential scams, advising that the public verify the legitimacy of any communication by contacting the source through its official channels.

“Exercise extreme caution with any requests for money, fees, or upfront payments for prizes or rewards,” the spokesperson added.

“Be wary of communications designed to manipulate your emotions, such as claims that you’ve won money or prizes.”

They also advised that South Africans never engage with scammers. Don’t reply to their messages or share any personal or sensitive information.

“Vodacom remains committed to safeguarding its customers and maintaining the integrity of its network,” they added.

In an SMS sent to Vodacom customers in early March 2025, the network operator warned that scammers were posing as Vodacom Rewards through a typical advance fee scam campaign.

Although Vodacom does run promotions through the Vodapay app, it said it will never ask customers to pay a fee to secure their prize.

“Beware of scammers posing as Vodacom Rewards. We will never ask for payment to redeem or deliver a prize,” the SMS read.

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

It added that its customers can verify suspicious communications by contacting 082135.

The network operator is taking a firm stance in addressing spam calls on its network by working with industry stakeholders like other mobile operators, financial institutions, and the South African Banking Risk Information Centre.

In late 2024, a Vodacom spokesperson told MyBroadband that the company was actively trying to raise awareness regarding spam calls.

These efforts included publishing information and advice on its portal and social media platforms to keep customers informed.

The company has also implemented machine learning technology to identify and block instances of SMS and telephonic phishing fraud.

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

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