Fraudsters are stepping up their efforts ahead of the 2026 tax season
Fraudsters are stepping up their efforts ahead of the 2026 tax season, with new scams involving fake links, QR codes, and impersonation messages targeting taxpayers.
According to Standard Bank Group, criminals are increasingly using SMS, WhatsApp, email and phone calls to impersonate tax authorities in a bid to trick victims into sharing sensitive banking information or making fraudulent payments.
The bank warned that these scams often rely on fear tactics, such as threats of legal action or claims of urgent tax issues, to pressure people into acting quickly without verifying the details.
“We’ve seen many cases where fraudsters send bait communication through text, email, WhatsApp or phone calls. The communication sent may claim that you have a tax refund, owe a tax penalty, or are being investigated for breaking tax laws,” Standard Bank’s Head of Fraud Operations, Client Experience and Risk Execution, Marius le Roux said.
