Kaya 959 Kaya Biz

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

Loading player...
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

Other recent episodes

Responsible Mining Must Put Communities and Ecology at the Centre

With the Mining Indaba in full swing, one of the key conversations should be focused on why South Africa’s pursuit of sustainable development in mining still remains uneven. While economic growth and investment imperatives continue to dominate decision-making, environmental protection and community wellbeing are too often treated as secondary considerations…
11 Feb 3PM 10 min

Beyond Numbers: The Human Side of Financial Success in Entrepreneurship

A study by FinScope MSME has highlighted that South Africa is home to around 3 million micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, employing an estimated 13.4 million people, making small businesses a critical part of the country’s workforce and economic future. To work towards curbing the challenges of entrepreneurship, there is…
11 Feb 1PM 11 min

Valentine’s Risk: What Couples Don’t Know About Money

As Valentine’s Day approaches, many South African couples are celebrating love, but few are talking about money. This is where problems often start. Reeona Chetty, Head of Advice at Vouch, unpacks the financial, legal and insurance blind spots couples face in South Africa, especially those living together but not married.
11 Feb 1PM 10 min

FlySafair–Harith Deal raises ownership, regulation and PIC questions

Low-cost carrier FlySafair’s acquisition by pan-African infrastructure investor Harith General Partners has placed the airline on the cusp of expanded growth opportunities across the continent, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and deeper commercial links with Europe, analysts said on Tuesday. Did FlySafair have no real choice…
11 Feb 1PM 10 min
All episodes