Scams & Hoaxes
Please be aware of the following scams and hoaxes which have been brought to our attention. If you know of a mobile phone related scam, please mail us at scamalerts@cellc.co.za to help us keep our customers informed.
Subscribers should be aware of receiving an SMS stating the following:
"Hooray Subscriber!! Your Cell No Has Won R210,000 in 'THE CELLC REAL DEAL PROMO'. Ref No:(RDP 676). Call claims on 074-0504949 for prize!! Visit www.cellc.co.za"
This has been confirmed as a scam and the message comes from the following number:
- 081 442 1826
These messages should be ignored.
Subscribers should be aware of receiving an SMS stating the following:
"Hoory Subscriber!! Your No Has Won R250,000 in 'THE CELL C EPIC PROMO'. Ref No:(CEP774). Call claims on 074-7150655 for prize!! Visit www.cellc.co.za/epic"
This has been confirmed as a scam and the message comes from the following number:
- 061 427 0188
These messages should be ignored.
Subscribers should be aware of receiving an SMS stating the following:
"DETTOL has awarded you R259,000 in 2015 DETTOL AWARDS, Your claim no DT44, Contact us on 0782023195"
This has been confirmed as a scam and the message comes from the following number:
- 078 2066390
These messages should be ignored.
The following scam sms is being sent by perpetrators trying to obtain your banking OTP passwords:
Dear (client name), we require you to send the first and second OTP numbers you received on your phone via sms to 0767216365. This is required by the South African Police to verify your bank account that is attached to your mobile phone number. You will be prosecuted if you don't send it immediately. Send the 2 OTP numbers to 0767216365
This message will be received after you respond to an email that appears to be from the relevant bank. Do not click on any links received via email regarding your internet banking. Manually enter the link you usually use into your browser, to ensure that you avoid all phishing attempts.
SARS refund scam warning:
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has warned taxpayers to be wary of an email scam using the SARS logo to defraud people.
The fraudulent emails state that the recipient is eligible for a refund, and that they require personal information - such as bank account details - in order to issue the refund.
The email content has varied - some containing links that opened a false website where the recipient is required to enter their personal details. Others required a return email with these details included.
SARS has advised taxpayers not to open emails from unknown sources, and not to provide information to anyone posing as SARS:"SARS will not request your banking details over the phone, or via email or websites", spokesperson Marika Miller said.
Subscribers should be aware of receiving an sms stating the following:
"You have been drawn at 09:23 and won a check - 509578 . Call 00239247905 to know the amount and withdraw it."
This has been confirmed as a scam and the message comes from any one of the following numbers:
- 0023456789
- 0023456789
- 0023456789
These messages should be ignored.
Subscribers should be aware of the following hoax:
Customers are being called by the fraudsters and told that they can "Win with Woza Wheneva", if they purchase recharge vouchers worth R150 from an Engen or Caltex garage. They are told not to load the airtime, but to call the person back with the details on the voucher so that they can be "entered into the draw". The fraudsters then load the airtime on to their own phone at the expense of the customer.
Cell C is not conducting any such promotion and we are appealing to customers to report an incident like this to us immediately, by contacting the Cell C call centre.
Here are some Smishing Scams to look out for:
Received the SMS from 074 XXX won R5M on Shell UK South Africa petroleum draw call Chris on 074 XXX
Received the SMS from 074 XXX won R250 and Laptop in Rica yearly promotion call frank on 074 XXX
Congratulations ! Your mobile number has won R 175 000 in the Nokia Global Promo. REF No 0029. For claims contact Mrs Grace Botha on tel: 073 XXX
084 XXX send SMS R450 000 in blackberry prmo ref 4bb8 call frank 073 XXX
Message Congratuations!!,your cellphone number won R350 000 in RICA 2012 promo draw, REF.00350RSA, pls call 011 XXX for your cash prize thank you."
Congratulations! For 2012 MOBILE MERIT AWARD, Ur cell no.Has won R150,000.call Ur Agent Mrs.Stacy on 084 XXX to Activate Ur Ticket no.44MMA From 8am to 5pm.
Congrats "074 XXX ", U are THE WINNER! Join 200 Prize Draws and claim your R1,200 Reward Today. Send WIN to XXXX Ws8/Subscription@R7/day. Optout?TxtStop
Congratulations! Your cell no has won R250,000 from RICA 2013 Award promotions. Ref no RiC112SA. Call 083XXX now to CLAIM YOUR PRIZE. 8am-4pm. T&CS
Congratulations your cell phone number has won R195.000 in 'Rica' company New Year promotion & laptop ref no. [RRG7] call Mr Robert on 081 XX for claim
Congratulations!Your Mobile No has Won R325,000 in the RICA ALL NETWORK PROMO,Ref No:sA09.Contact Mr Frank on 078 XXX for your activation & Claim instruction
Congratulations! Your phone won R 165,999 from Nokia 2012 Promotion. Ref No. NUK/213. Call Mr Steve Hill @084 XXX to verify and transfer your won prize soon
Here are some Smishing Scams to look out for:
SIM swap fraud is used by fraudsters to defraud unsuspecting internet banking users. Once they have acquired the victim's banking details and other personal information through phishing scams, the fraudsters then call the network operator posing as the customer and request a SIM swap. This will cancel the customer's SIM connection and the fraudsters will have access to the customer's cellphone line. This will enable the fraudsters to receive the customer's one time internet banking password allowing them to perform fraudulent internet banking transactions. There are various modus operandi that are used or followed by these fraudsters to obtain the customer's information or to lure them to disclose their personal information.