Scammers are using high-pressure video calls to terrorise ordinary citizens into believing they are the targets of major criminal investigations
A 50-year-old Stellenbosch woman said she got the shock of her life when people in police uniforms accused her of being "the female version of Pablo Escobar", smuggling ecstasy, fake passports, and "fong kong" clothing to Australia.
Believing their terrifying claims that she was now a wanted mastermind of an international smuggling ring, she, just like they asked, handed over R9,999 during a four-hour video call — emptying every last cent she had in her Nedbank account.
She said she transferred the funds because they told her the payment was just a temporary security check to prove her bank account was legitimate.
They promised the cash would be reversed and back in her account within three hours.
