Is your money really safe? South Africa’s invisible crime wave episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 30, 2026 · 12 MIN

Is your money really safe? South Africa’s invisible crime wave

from Daily Maverick · host Daily Maverick

South Africa’s latest crime statistics suggest a country getting safer, but that’s only part of the story. Commercial crime - fraud, scams, and financial exploitation - is rising, with cases doubling over the past decade. It’s a quieter crime, but one that targets ordinary South Africans directly, often through the very systems they rely on. Why has this surge escaped national attention? And what happens when victims try to fight back? Rebecca Davis, senior journalist at Daily Maverick, reports.  Reporting by: Rebecca Davis  Filmed by: Joel Seboa  Edited by: Joel Seboa  Produced by: Emilie Gambade  Creative lead by: Malibongwe Tyilo  Sub-edited by: Ian Wolstenholme  Support journalism that protects democracy.  Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick Read the full story: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/artic... Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick Subscribe to our channel:    / @dailymavericksa   Follow us on X : https://x.com/dailymaverick Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailymaverick Check our website: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/dailymaverick/ Check out our TikTok page: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailymavericksa Download Daily Maverick Mobile App: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/daily...   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

South Africa’s latest crime statistics suggest a country getting safer, but that’s only part of the story. Commercial crime - fraud, scams, and financial exploitation - is rising, with cases doubling over the past decade. It’s a quieter crime, but one that targets ordinary South Africans directly, often through the very systems they rely on. Why has this surge escaped national attention? And what happens when victims try to fight back? Rebecca Davis, senior journalist at Daily Maverick, reports.

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Is your money really safe? South Africa’s invisible crime wave

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South Africa’s latest crime statistics suggest a country getting safer, but that’s only part of the story. Commercial crime - fraud, scams, and financial exploitation - is rising, with cases doubling over the past decade. It’s a quieter crime, but...

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