MTN, Vodacom, Telkom, Cell C and Liquid Telecom lost about R198.9 million ($12.5 million) to subscription fraud in South Africa in the 12 months to April 2026, as fraud cases surged more than fourfold, according to the Communications Risk and Information Centre (COMRiC).
Reported cases jumped 307 percent year-on-year to 14,897, showing how fraud syndicates are increasingly targeting telecom operators with stolen or legitimately obtained customer information.
Subscription fraud occurs when individuals or organised groups obtain telecom services without intending to pay for them. But the latest figures point to a more sophisticated threat, with criminals using genuine identity documents and bank statements to pass operators’ verification checks.
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“They present themselves to our network operators with authentic documents, including valid bank statements, to register for services,” Thokozani Mvelase, COMRiC CEO said.
