Only 44,2% of individuals reported consumer fraud cases in 2021/22.
Blanchi Costela, Getty Images
- Females and people living in urban areas were most likely to experience consumer fraud, according to a recent survey.
- Housebreaking, which affected 983,000 households in the country, was the most prevalent of all crimes over the 2021/22 period.
- Consumer fraud, with a total of 844,000, came in second.
- Only 44,2% of individuals affected by consumer fraud reported it in 2021/22.
- For more stories go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
The antics of an alleged Israeli romance conman, Simon Leviev, better known “The Tinder Swindler” caught the attention of South Africans earlier this year.
Stats SA’s Governance, Public Safety, And Justice Survey 2021/22 may point to why the Netflix documentary about Leviev, who was born Shimon Yehuda Hayut and allegedly pretended to be the son of a billionaire, was such a hit.
According to the survey, South Africans, especially female South Africans, are all too familiar with people duping them. It found that “females and persons living in urban areas were most likely to experience consumer fraud”.
Though the survey says housebreaking, which affected 983,000 households in the country, was the most prevalent of all crimes over the 2021/22 period, consumer fraud, with its total of 844,000, came in second.
Consumer fraud was not only the second most prevalent crime, but it also showed a dramatic 71% increase in the past year.
“The survey further shows that the number of incidences of consumer fraud increased from 493,000 in 2020/21 to 844,000 in 2021/22.”
Stats SA
As defined by Stats SA, consumer fraud happens when someone provides services or goods and cheats on quality or quantity.
This also includes advance-fee fraud (like R99 debit/credit card scams, 419 scams, and online shopping) where products and services are promised but never given.
The increased prevalence of these types of fraud, however, did not lead to a big rise in the number of cases reported.
“The percentage of individuals who reported some or all incidences to the police increased from 41,3% in 2020/21 to 44,2% in 2021/22.”
This means crime pays for conmen operating in South Africa, as the chances of being held to account are low, with less than half of these crimes reported.
