Real fines don't need you to hurry.
It arrives as a normal SMS. There is a link, a deadline and almost nothing else. No name, no vehicle, no date, no amount.
Official Notification: A traffic violation has been recorded under your information. Please pay the fine within the specified period: lnk.ink/DA•••
- A real notice names you, your vehicle and the offence. This one names nothing.
- The link is a shortener, not a .gov.za address. You cannot see where it goes.
- Check on the official site or at the traffic department yourself. Nothing legitimate needs you to use the link in the message.
Googling yourself is the amateur version. We do the real one.
Hack Check shows you what someone can already find out about you: which of your accounts turn up in breach data, what a stealer log has on you, and what is public that you thought was not. Then we tell you what to close first.
Not sure whether a message is real? Send it to us.
Do not tap the link first. Send us the message whichever way is easiest and we'll check it.
- Take a screenshot and send it on WhatsApp.
- Copy the text and paste it into our chat.
- If the message is already in WhatsApp, press and hold it, then tap Forward.
Before you send, hide account numbers, identity numbers and anything private that is not part of the scam. We only need enough to recognise it.
We tell you what we think it is and what to do next. We watch this number every day from 7am to 9pm and usually reply within ten minutes. Outside those hours you will hear from us first thing in the morning. Some checks need a closer look and take longer.
Other scams worth knowing
Tap any one to see what it looks like and what gives it away.
SARS refund SMS
tax season
An SMS says a tax refund is waiting and gives you a link to confirm your banking details. The amount is usually a few thousand rand, small enough that people believe it. The tell: SARS says it will not ask for banking details by SMS, and the address does not end in sars.gov.za. Open eFiling yourself instead.
Attorney banking details change
property
Mid-transfer, an email that looks like it is from your conveyancer says their banking details have changed. Losses can be severe and recovering the payment is often difficult. The tell: an emailed change of banking details is not verified. Call the firm on a number you already trust before paying.
Supplier invoice switch
business
A regular supplier emails a normal-looking invoice with one thing changed, the account number. Often the criminal has been reading the mailbox for weeks, waiting for an invoice big enough to be worth it. The tell: treat every change of banking details as unverified until you confirm it on a trusted number or with a known contact.
Courier delivery fee
parcel
An SMS says a parcel is held at the depot and needs a small customs or delivery fee, usually under R100. The amount is tiny on purpose. What they are after is your card number. The tell: do not pay through an unexpected SMS link. Open the courier's own app or website yourself, or call its published number.
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Qaphela is run by Ubuntu Guard Cyber.
Qaphela is a community scam-warning service. We help South African families, teams and businesses recognise scams, reduce digital risk and respond safely when something goes wrong. We are based in Durban and work across KZN.