Sophisticated digital scams are the new face of fraud in South Africa. While losses fell from R3.3 billion to R2.7 billion, fraud cases, particularly in digital banking, surged nationwide.

Fraud has changed significantly over the past decade. Phishing, SIM swap attacks, and mobile banking fraud have overtaken earlier crimes such as ATM and card fraud. Digital banking fraud rose by 86% in 2024, costing R1.9 billion. Crucially, modern fraud rarely breaches banking systems. Instead, criminals trick people into authorising payments or sharing sensitive information through social engineering. These tactics are evolving, using AI, deepfakes, and convincing scams.

With 1,956 cases per 100,000, Mpumalanga’s crime rate is moderate, less than the national average, though Nkangala District remains a high-activity area. Despite a 13.8% decrease in serious crimes (approx. 2,405) in Middelburg (Apr-Dec 2025), crime levels are still high province-wide. Over 21,000 serious crimes were reported in Nkangala District, confirming it as a crime hotspot.

For businesses, this means increasing exposure to fraud risks such as: Mobile banking and payment fraud, Online card fraud (card‑not‑present transactions), Identity‑based and social engineering scams

South African fraud is evolving, not decreasing. Rapidly increasing incidents, fuelled by digital platforms and new criminal methods, are occurring despite fluctuating losses. Despite recent improvements, Mpumalanga and Middelburg still have high crime rates.

Be aware and vigilant to prevent fraud. People are the new targets; stay vigilant.