Fraudsters are preying on traditional African beliefs to scam South Africans
South Africans are deeply connected to their culture and cultural beliefs. Followers of the fundamental traditional African belief system believe they are watched over by their ancestors, who guide them in times of crisis or when facing an important decision in their lives.
Many South Africans are facing harsh economic conditions and would typically seek guidance on how to see them through these challenging times. "Scam artists are abusing cultural belief systems and are taking advantage of the believers financial desperation to scam them for everything they have," says Nazia Karrim, Head of Product Development at the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS). She adds that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), specialised 419-Scams Task Team have noticed the em...