"Take It All": SA Woman Reveals How She Scammed Mzansi Using Fake SARS Calls From Cambodia in Video

• A South African woman appeared on the Safe Space Chats Podcast to reveal she was recruited to Cambodia under false pretences
• Natalie exposed how the scam operation used real South African ID numbers and names to trick victims into handing over full access to their phones and bank accounts
• South Africans online were shocked to learn the syndicate allegedly involved authority's and officials

A South African woman called Natalie went public with a deeply alarming story about how she was lured to Cambodia for what she believed was a legitimate call centre job, only to find herself trapped inside a scam compound targeting her own people.

Natalie appeared on episode 185 of the Safe Space Chats Podcast, and a short video from the segment was posted on host, @madam____speaker's page. Natalie walked listeners through exactly how the operation worked, from the inside.

How she says SARS scam actually works

According to Natalie, the syndicate obtained real South African names, surnames and ID numbers, believed to have been sold by someone with access to SARS systems. Armed with that information, operators would call South Africans and convincingly pose as SARS employees. The IP address used in the calls traced back to South Africa, making the deception even harder to detect.

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Callers would tell victims their SARS profile was "non-compliant" and instruct them to download a specific app via a WhatsApp link, not from the Play Store, but a version described as an "updated" alternative. Once a victim clicked the link and filled in their details, the operators gained complete access to their device, including banking apps, social media accounts and personal files.

Natalie explained that a banking overlay, specifically designed to mimic apps like Capitec, would be placed over the real app. While the victim's screen showed a loading bar, operators were draining the account in the background. By the time the screen cleared, the money was gone and no trace of the intrusion remained on the phone.

She added that no victim was spared based on their balance. She said.

"Sometimes it will be an old person [with] 700 [rand]. You take it all."

Natalie also alleged that the syndicate had deep protection. She claimed that police, security personnel and individuals connected to the Thai embassy were allegedly involved, and that during raids, officers would warn compound workers in advance to keep everyone inside.

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View the Instagram video below:

Mzansi reacts to the scam

South Africans took to the comments on the page with concern, disbelief and warnings for others:

@rich_auntdiva wrote:

"I think I might be one of those who's been tried and tested. However I never clicked anything. They keep trying to call me. I'm ignoring them now. I needed to see this 🙏"

@charlesmyster said:

"I watch my phone ring every single day"

@mojelacharlotte warned:

"Can we refrain from clicking links bathong‼️" (Meaning: people, please!)

@statistically_stemtion joked nervously:

"Maybe under the couch isn't such a bad place to bank 😫"

@nandiphageza added:

"Also that link that says you have a speeding ticket comes through your SMS, don't click on it. Your money goes instantly"

@cc11celestte shared:

"Girl, I am so glad that you escaped. I live in Cambodia and I know how bad the scam compounds are. I am so glad you managed to escape."

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@lindawarriors revealed:

"Now owing SARS because of this 😢😢😢 this is so sad"

More Briefly News stories on scams

• Cyber safety expert Michael Buswell warned South Africans about increasingly sophisticated bank scams after sharing the case of a teenager who allegedly lost R438,000 in a fraudulent call impersonating a bank representative.
• A suspected SGK pyramid scheme in Lesotho collapsed, leaving thousands of victims allegedly unable to withdraw their money after investing millions in what was marketed as a digital marketing opportunity.
• A South African man raised the alarm about AI-powered voice-cloning scams, warning that criminals can copy people’s voices to deceive families and steal money.

Source: Briefly News