A WhatsApp message arrives.
“Hi Ma, this is my new number.”
It looks harmless. It may even come with a familiar profile picture.
But that simple message could be the beginning of a scam designed to create trust, trigger urgency and ultimately get someone to hand over sensitive information or money.
As more senior South Africans use smartphones, messaging platforms and digital banking services, fraud awareness needs to evolve with them.
The biggest threat is not always someone hacking directly into a bank account.
Sometimes, all a fraudster needs is a convincing story.
The Scam Starts With Trust
Fraudsters can impersonate children, grandchildren, friends, banks and other trusted organisations.
They may use familiar names, logos, profile pictures or language that feels genuine.
The objective is often to make the victim act before they stop to verify what is happening.
“Fraudsters don’t necessarily need to access someone’s bank account to get to someone’s money,” says Ettienne Fourie, Head of Fraud for Retail and Business Banking at FNB.
“They manipulate people into compromising sensitive information such as their card and CVV number or convince them to make a payment to reverse alleged fraud.”
According to Fourie, the technology behind the scam may change, but the underlying tactic often remains the same.
Whether it arrives through a phone call, SMS, banking app or messaging platform, the fraudster attempts to create trust, fear or urgency.
These Messages Can Look Completely Normal
Some scam messages have become familiar enough to blend into everyday digital communication.
They may say:
- “Hi Gogo, I lost my phone. Please save this number.”
- “Your bank account will be blocked. Click here to verify your details.”
- “You have received a payment. Please provide the OTP to release it.”
- “There has been a change to your pension fund or investment, please enter your card details to verify that it is you.”
- “You have outstanding traffic fines, please pay them now using your card to avoid prosecution.”
None of these messages necessarily looks suspicious at first glance.
That is precisely the challenge.
Fraudsters can combine familiar identities and convincing language with a sense that something must happen right now.
Technology Is Making Impersonation More Convincing
Spotting fraud is becoming more difficult as technology develops.
AI-generated phishing messages, voice-cloning tools and deep-fake video generation can increasingly be used to impersonate trusted people and organisations.
That means recognising fraud is no longer only about identifying an obviously suspicious message.
It is also about developing the habit of stopping, checking and verifying before acting.
Why Payment Days Can Attract Fraudsters
Payment dates can create another opportunity for criminals.
Millions of South Africans rely on social grants, including more than 4 million recipients of the Older Persons Grant.
Fraudsters can exploit the predictability of payment dates with messages about grant payments, beneficiary verification or account updates.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) regularly advises beneficiaries to use official channels when checking payment information and to remain cautious about requests for personal information.
The scam does not always involve a grant.
It could involve a fake delivery notification, a bogus competition or a family member supposedly facing an urgent financial emergency.
The objective can be the same: make the victim act quickly before checking whether the request is genuine.
The Scale Of Digital Banking Crime
The warning comes against a significant backdrop.
The latest annual banking crime statistics from the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) show that losses from digital banking crime across the various banks increased to R2.4 billion in 2025.
More than 70% of reported digital banking losses were linked to banking-app-related crime.
These figures underline why digital safety needs to be part of everyday financial habits.
Families Can Become Part Of The Safety Net
Protecting older family members does not mean telling them to stop using WhatsApp or abandoning digital banking.
Instead, families can make “pause and check” a normal part of everyday digital life.
A simple conversation can create an important layer of protection.
1. Don’t Rush Because Someone Says It’s Urgent
A message saying “please do this now”, “your account will be blocked” or “I need the money immediately” should be a reason to pause.
If the request supposedly comes from a bank, open the banking app yourself or contact the bank through a trusted number.
If it supposedly comes from a family member using a new number, call the number already saved in your phone instead of replying to the new contact.
2. Keep Security Information Private
PINs, passwords, CVVs and OTPs should never be shared with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
It does not matter whether the person sounds professional, knows your name or claims to represent your bank.
If someone asks for confidential security information, stop the interaction and verify independently.
FNB customers can use security and fraud-reporting tools available on the FNB App to help identify suspicious activity and report concerns.
Suspected fraud can also be reported through the FNB App or by contacting the FNB Fraud Operations Centre on 087 575 9444.
3. Make Getting A Second Opinion Normal
Families can agree that anyone who receives an unusual message can call someone they trust before taking action.
It could be as simple as a grandchild telling their grandmother:
“Gogo, if you get a strange message about money, send it to me first and we’ll check it together.”
Fourie says people should feel comfortable asking for help when something does not look right.
“Asking for a second opinion is not a sign that you cannot manage your money; it is a sensible fraud-prevention habit,” he says.
The Goal Is Confidence, Not Fear
Digital banking and messaging are now part of everyday life for people of all ages.
The answer to increasingly sophisticated scams is not to make seniors afraid of technology.
It is to make checking just as familiar as clicking.
For families, the message is straightforward:
Don’t rush.
Don’t share security information.
Verify anything unusual through a trusted channel.
Modern scams may become more sophisticated, but one of the simplest defences remains powerful: pause before acting.
Sometimes, protection starts with one question:
“Does this look right to you?”
