04/03/2026
Over the past few weeks, more and more clients have mentioned suspicious “official” emails landing in their inboxes, and we’ve seen the same increase on our side, particularly after the end of the tax year.
These messages are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Fraudsters often attach documents made to look like formal court papers, they use email addresses that appear legitimate at first glance, and they replicate the letterheads and branding of government departments. The most common impersonations we are seeing include SARS, the National Prosecuting Authority, and various municipalities.
A practical reminder:
If you receive an email like this and you are unsure whether it’s legitimate, do not open any attachments, click on any links, or respond in any way. Pause, seek advice first, and verify the communication through trusted channels before engaging.
Because we deal with these departments and their processes regularly, we can often identify very quickly whether communication is genuine or not. The key is to verify before you react. If you’re wondering how these attempts sometimes slip up despite looking “official”, one example we received literally includes “God day” right at the start before moving on to threats and “court summons” language.
Please don’t feel pressured or intimidated into responding. The aim is usually to create urgency and panic, and engaging can expose your personal information, banking details, passwords, and other sensitive data.
Please stay vigilant.
