Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
19 March 2024 | 10:30 CAT
2 min read

The South African Post Office has issued a warning about a surge in phishing scams targeting unsuspecting consumers. Fraudulent SMS’s and emails are being sent, requesting individuals to update their delivery addresses within 24 hours to prevent parcel loss or return.

Louise Brugman from the Joint South African Post Office Business Rescue Practitioners (BRP’s) said they are seeing an increase in emails and SMS platforms.

Scammers seek personal information and direct recipients to click on a link to change their addresses, often demanding payment to release packages.

“It appears very authentic; they use the South African post office branding. Customers should see a red flag when there is a call to action; for example, they say your parcel has arrived, and they request an update of an address or banking details or ask you to click on a link. At the bottom, it says submit or enter, and then that goes out to fraudsters,” she said.

Brugman emphasised that customers should be aware that payments for packages locally and from overseas are typically made in person at the post office, not online. Therefore, any online payment request should raise suspicion as it is likely a scam.

“The post office will send an SMS saying your package has arrived and that you must go to the branch to get your parcel. The only action required is to go in, present your ID, and transact with the post office in the branch. The post office does not ask any unnecessary questions. You can also go onto the website to track parcels that others may send you from overseas with the tracking or waybill number they receive,” she said.

The Post Office advises against sharing bank details with unknown sources and clarifies that they do not request online updates of personal information. Instead, the company only sends collection alerts via SMS or post.

Brugman advised the public to be careful and to call the post office care line or the crime-busting hotline if anything seems suspicious. She asserted that a fraud campaign has been launched against many businesses in SA.

The Public may call the customer care line at 086 011 1502, or the crime-busting hotline at 080 002 0070.

LISTEN to the full interview with Muallimah Annisa Essack and the BRP’s Louise Brugman, here.