Police Alert Public to Rising Social Media Scams

Newcastle Police Warn of Rising Social Media Scams, Provide Safety Guidelines

Newcastle SAPS Corporate Communications officer Lizzy Arumugam has issued an urgent warning to local residents about the increasing threat of social media scams. As online fraud continues to rise across South Africa, authorities are taking proactive measures to educate the public on recognizing and avoiding common digital traps.

“The sophistication of these scams has evolved significantly,” Arumugam explained during a recent public awareness briefing. “What once might have been obvious phishing attempts are now carefully crafted deceptions that can fool even tech-savvy individuals.”

According to Newcastle SAPS, impersonation scams represent one of the most prevalent threats. Fraudsters create convincing fake profiles using stolen information to impersonate friends, family members, or public figures. These accounts are then used to distribute malicious links or manipulate victims into transferring money.

Investment scams have also surged in recent months, with criminals exploiting social media to promote fictitious get-rich-quick schemes, particularly involving cryptocurrency trading. These operations often feature unauthorized videos of celebrities or business leaders to create an illusion of legitimacy.

Other common tactics include giveaway and lottery scams promising substantial prizes after victims pay “release fees,” fake online stores collecting personal and payment information, romance scams targeting emotionally vulnerable individuals, and fraudulent job offers designed to extract sensitive data or upfront payments.

The Newcastle police department has outlined several warning signs that residents should watch for when navigating social media platforms. These include unsolicited messages requesting money or personal information, pressure to act quickly on time-sensitive offers, unusual payment requests involving gift cards or cryptocurrency, suspicious links, poor grammar, newly created profiles with few followers, and offers that seem too good to be true.

“The psychological manipulation behind these scams is quite sophisticated,” noted a cybersecurity expert familiar with the Newcastle police department’s efforts. “Scammers create artificial urgency to short-circuit critical thinking and exploit basic human desires for connection, opportunity, or financial gain.”

To combat these threats, authorities recommend implementing strong security measures such as unique passwords and multi-factor authentication for all social media accounts. Users should independently verify the identity of contacts making unusual requests by contacting them through alternative channels. Adjusting privacy settings, avoiding suspicious links, and limiting third-party app permissions can further reduce vulnerability.

For those who have already fallen victim to scams, Newcastle SAPS advises immediately cutting contact with the perpetrators, gathering evidence through screenshots, reporting fraudulent accounts to the social media platforms, filing a police report, and alerting personal networks to prevent further victimization.

The police department’s public awareness campaign comes amid growing concern about cybercrime throughout KwaZulu-Natal province. Last month alone, Newcastle SAPS investigated three fraud cases directly linked to social media scams, with victims losing significant sums to sophisticated online schemes.

“Prevention through education is our most effective tool,” Arumugam emphasized. “While we’re actively pursuing these criminals, the digital nature of these crimes makes them particularly challenging to investigate. We’re asking community members to serve as the first line of defense by staying informed and vigilant.”

Local authorities encourage residents to follow official Newcastle SAPS communication channels for regular updates on emerging scams and additional cybersecurity guidance as fraudsters continue to develop new techniques.