South Africans are likely to see more fraudulent messages claiming to be from the South African Revenue Service as tax season draws closer. Experts say scammers are using realistic-looking emails and SMS texts to target taxpayers with demands or promises of refunds.
Thalia Pillay, cofounder and CEO of Orca Fraud, said awareness is key because the scams are growing harder to detect. She noted that most smartphone users in the country will probably receive at least one such message this year. Pillay listed four common types of SARS-related fraud. These include fake settlement notices that demand immediate payment, refund SMS texts asking for personal or card details, letters claiming legal action is pending, and notices about auto-assessments that direct users to external links. SARS does not send bank details, request credit card information or include hyperlinks in its communications, Pillay said. Genuine notices appear in a taxpayer’s eFiling profile, and payments must be made only through official portals. People who receive suspicious messages can report them to phishing@sars.gov.za or call the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 00 2870. The recommended approach is to avoid clicking links, to stay calm and to check accounts directly on the SARS.gov.za website.
