Guides to online scams
Short answers to the questions that come up before you trust someone from the internet: dating, buying and selling, renting, jobs and investments.
- How can I tell if the person I met online is married?
- How can I tell if someone's profile photos are stolen?
- Why won't the person I'm chatting to do a video call?
- The person I met online asked me for money for an emergency. Is it a scam?
- How can I tell if a job offer is fake?
- How can I tell if a place to rent really exists?
- How can I avoid scams when buying or selling online?
- How can I spot an investment scam?
- How do I report an online scam in South Africa?
- What does Veritaza check?
Dating and romance scams
- What are the signs of a romance scam?
- My online match says they work on an oil rig, a ship or in the army. Is that a scam?
- Someone I just met online says they love me after a few days. Is it a scam?
- Why does my Tinder match want to move to WhatsApp straight away?
- Can a romance scammer be a real person and not a fake profile?
- What is a sugar daddy or blesser scam?
- My online partner wants to send me a parcel or gift from overseas. Is it a scam?
- Someone online is threatening to share my nude photos unless I pay. What do I do?
- How do I spot a fake dating profile?
- Is it safe to meet someone from a dating app for the first time?
WhatsApp, SMS and calls
- I got a "Hi Mom, this is my new number" WhatsApp. Is it a scam?
- Someone on WhatsApp says they sent me a code by mistake and wants it back. Is it a scam?
- How can I tell if a WhatsApp number is from South Africa?
- Why do I keep getting WhatsApp messages from unknown international numbers?
- Someone is using my photos on a fake profile. What can I do?
- I got an SMS saying I won a prize or a competition. Is it real?
- How do I know if a phone number is a virtual or internet number?
- Is this SMS from my bank real, or is it phishing?
- Someone is calling about a parcel stuck at customs that I must pay for. Is it a scam?
- My WhatsApp account was hacked. What should I do?
Buying and selling online
- How can I tell if a proof of payment is fake?
- Is it safe to EFT a Marketplace seller before I collect the item?
- A buyer on Gumtree wants to send a courier to collect and pay me afterwards. Is it a scam?
- How do I check if an online shop in South Africa is legit?
- The seller wants a deposit to hold the item for me. Should I pay it?
- How do I avoid being scammed when buying a car privately online?
- A buyer overpaid me by EFT and wants the difference back. Is it a scam?
- I paid for something on Marketplace and the seller blocked me. What now?
- How do I sell safely on Facebook Marketplace?
Renting a place
- Why does the landlord want a deposit before I've viewed the flat?
- How do I check if a rental agent is registered in South Africa?
- Could the rental advert be copied from another listing?
- The landlord says they're overseas and will courier the keys. Is that normal?
- How can I tell if a lease agreement is fake?
- Is it safe to pay rent into a private person's bank account?
- Someone wants to rent my spare room and pay months up front from abroad. Is it a scam?
- What should I ask a landlord before paying a deposit?
- How do I check that a student room near campus is real before I pay?