Beware of this convincing sim swap scam
Scams are becoming more and more convincing!
South Africans are being warned about a highly sophisticated cell phone scam that is catching even media professionals off guard, and it starts with a phone call that sounds completely legitimate
An employee from Jacaranda FM recently shared how they were almost tricked by a fraudster posing as a representative from their mobile service provider.
The caller claimed that someone was attempting a SIM swap on their contract number and that the network had flagged it as potential fraud.
The call was calm, professional and convincing.
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The "agent" explained that the network had intercepted the SIM swap request and was calling to confirm whether it had been authorised by the owner of the number.
Once the employee confirmed they had not, the caller dramatically assured them the fraudster would be “tracked down and arrested”.
A scam that looks real
The call escalated when the fraudster said an urgent step was needed to stop the SIM swap.
Moments later, an SMS arrived.
One of the more concerning things was that the SMS was not from a random number, but from the same message thread normally used by MTN for official notifications, including app logins.
The SMS appeared authentic, complete with what looked like a legitimate MTN sender ID and email address.
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It contained a one-time PIN (OTP), which the caller insisted needed to be read aloud immediately to "block" the SIM swap.
Crucially, the SMS itself clearly stated that MTN would never ask customers to share their OTP.
When this was pointed out by the contract owner, the "agent" attempted to override the warning, using technical words and language and insisting this was a "special case" due to identity theft and fraud.
The pressure intensified, and this was the moment the Jacaranda FM employee realised it was a scam.
A warning to South Africans
Realising that no legitimate service provider would be this aggressive or ask for sensitive security details, the employee refused to share the OTP.
The caller then attempted a final scare tactic, warning that the number would be blocked and that they would have to visit a branch to restore it.
Shortly after ending the call, the employee contacted their actual service provider directly.
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A real representative from the service provider confirmed that it was a scam.
The network confirmed there had been no SIM swap request, helped secure the account, checked for suspicious activity and asked for the scammer’s number so it could be blocked and investigated.
What you need to know
SIM swap scams are one of the most dangerous forms of mobile fraud in South Africa.
Once scammers gain control of a number, they can access banking apps, intercept verification codes and drain accounts.
Remember:
- Your service provider will never ask for your OTP.
- Urgency and pressure are major red flags.
- Official-looking SMS threads can be spoofed.
- Always hang up and call your network directly using a verified number.
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Images: Jacaranda FM