How to Outsmart Festive Season Scammers – Truecaller’s Guide to Safer Calls in SA.

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GUEST – Mmathebe Zvobwo, Director of Market Development for Truecaller South Africa

The festive season may bring joy, travel and celebration but it’s also open season for scammers. As South Africans reconnect with loved ones, spend more, expect deliveries and wrap up the year, scam activity spikes dramatically. From fake courier messages and bank impersonation calls to holiday rental fraud and bogus competitions, scammers exploit the chaos and the emotional pressure of December.

We sit down with Mmathebe Zvobwo, Truecaller’s Director of Market Development for South Africa, for a conversation on how consumers can protect themselves from the surge in fraud that grips the country every festive season.

Mmathebe breaks down the most common scams South Africans face, explains why the country is such a hotspot for fraudsters, and shows how tools like Truecaller’s AI-powered scam detection, Verified Business Caller ID, and community-driven reporting are helping millions of users take the guesswork out of answering their phones.
11 Dec 2025 3PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

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