This study of 1,280 South African adults shows that scam exposure is widespread, with 85% of participants encountering a scam in the past year. While 85% say they are confident in recognizing scams, 54% still interacted with a scammer (71% of those exposed). Ultimately, 19% experienced financial or data loss, with only 6% reporting the incident to authorities. Among victims, the impact extends well beyond financial harm, with 77% reporting effects on their mental wellbeing, and 53% experiencing repeat scams.
