PROJECT: FAKE INVESTIGATORS, FAKE LAWYERS AND FAKE POLICE OFFICIALS
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CRIMINALS ARE INCREASINGLY USING PROFESSIONAL IDENTITIES TO GAIN TRUST,
OBTAIN INFORMATION AND STEAL MONEY.
SSS HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF PUBLIC AWARENESS AND CRIME-PREVENTION EFFORTS
FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. DESPITE THESE CONTINUED WARNINGS, MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
STILL DO NOT FULLY APPRECIATE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE THREAT.
Criminals do not always present themselves as criminals. Increasingly, fraudsters impersonate private investigators,
attorneys, advocates, police officials and other law-enforcement personnel to gain access to victims,
obtain confidential information or demand money.
The deception can be convincing. Criminals may use stolen photographs, forged identification documents,
fake business profiles, fabricated case numbers, counterfeit letters, false warrants,
fraudulent invoices and telephone numbers that appear to belong to legitimate organisations.
The objective is often the same: establish credibility first, create urgency or fear, and then exploit the victim.
This type of impersonation can also be used to obtain information about another person, interfere with an investigation, intimidate witnesses or persuade victims to disclose banking, identity or other sensitive information.
HOW THE SCAM WORKS:
A victim may receive a telephone call, WhatsApp message, email or social-media communication from someone claiming to be investigating a criminal matter.
The person may introduce themselves as:
A private investigator working on a case;
An attorney or advocate representing a client;
A police detective or senior police official;
A member of a specialised law-enforcement unit;
A court official or prosecutor;
An investigator working for an insurance company, bank or other institution.
The criminal may already know some information about the victim.
This is important because basic personal information obtained from social media, data breaches, public records or previous scams can make an impersonation appear legitimate.
The victim may then be told that immediate action is required.
Examples include claims that:
A criminal case has been opened against the victim;
The victim is required to provide a statement;
A warrant or summons has been issued;
A family member has been arrested;
Money must be paid to prevent arrest or prosecution;
An investigation requires the victim's banking details;
A payment is necessary to release property or recover stolen funds;
The investigator can recover money previously lost in a scam, provided an upfront fee is paid.
Once the victim accepts the person's identity, the criminal can escalate the deception.
FAKE PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS:
Private investigators are particularly attractive identities for criminals because members of the public may not know how to verify an investigator's credentials.
A genuine investigator should be able to identify the business or investigation being conducted and explain, within lawful limits, who they represent and why they are contacting the person.
A person who refuses to provide basic professional information, insists that everything must remain secret, demands immediate payment or attempts to obtain unnecessary personal information should be treated with caution.
Victims should independently verify the investigator and the investigation rather than relying on contact details supplied by the person making the approach.
FAKE LAWYERS:
Criminals can also impersonate legal practitioners.
They may use the name of a genuine attorney or law firm, copy logos from legitimate websites, create fraudulent letterheads or use email addresses that closely resemble genuine professional addresses.
A particularly dangerous variation involves the impersonation of a real attorney or law firm.
The criminal may use genuine names and information but substitute their own telephone number or banking details.
South Africans should therefore never assume that a document is genuine simply because it carries a law firm's name, logo or apparent registration details.
Where money is requested, the client should independently contact the law firm using contact details obtained from a trusted source and verify the matter before making any payment.
FAKE POLICE OFFICIALS:
Impersonating a police official can be especially effective because the criminal can use fear of arrest or criminal prosecution to pressure the victim.
A fraudster may claim to be a detective and provide a supposed case number, station name, rank and surname.
The criminal may then demand money to make a case disappear, prevent an arrest, secure someone's release or avoid prosecution.
A demand for money in exchange for avoiding lawful police action is a major warning sign.
The South African Police Service does not require members of the public to pay a police official privately to prevent an arrest, close a criminal case or influence an investigation.
If a person claims to be a police official, the victim should independently verify the person's identity and the existence of the investigation through the relevant SAPS structure.
RED FLAGS:
Members of the public should be particularly cautious when a supposed investigator, lawyer or police official:
Creates immediate fear or panic;
Threatens arrest if money is not paid;
Demands secrecy;
Refuses independent verification;
Requests payment into a personal bank account;
Changes banking details at short notice;
Uses a free email address for supposedly official correspondence;
Sends poor-quality identification or documentation;
Provides a case number that cannot be independently verified;
Requests an OTP, PIN, password or banking login details;
Requests photographs of identity documents without a legitimate and verified reason;
Insists that communication must take place only through WhatsApp;
Prevents the victim from contacting the organisation directly;
Claims that payment will result in a criminal matter being withdrawn or suppressed.
One red flag does not necessarily prove fraud.
Several warning signs occurring together should, however, be treated as a serious indication that verification is required.
HOW TO VERIFY THE PERSON:
Do not verify a person using the contact details they supplied.
Instead:
For a police official:
Independently contact the relevant SAPS station or structure and establish whether the person is a member and whether the stated investigation exists.
For a legal practitioner:
Independently verify the practitioner and firm through the appropriate South African legal regulatory structures and contact the firm using independently sourced contact details.
For a private investigator:
Establish the investigator's identity, business details and professional credentials independently.
Where applicable, verify their registration and standing with the relevant regulatory authority.
For any payment request:
Confirm the recipient's banking details through an independently obtained telephone number.
Do not rely solely on an email, WhatsApp message or invoice received from the person requesting payment.
DO NOT HAND OVER INFORMATION TOO QUICKLY:
A victim should not provide copies of identity documents, banking information, passwords, OTPs, confidential business information, photographs, addresses or information about family members simply because someone claims to be an investigator or law-enforcement official.
Criminals can use apparently harmless information to build a much more convincing second-stage fraud.
The same information can also be used for identity theft, account takeovers, intimidation or further targeting.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN TARGETED:
Do not continue communicating with the suspected fraudster merely to establish whether the person is genuine.
Preserve the evidence.
Keep:
WhatsApp conversations;
Emails;
Telephone numbers;
Voice notes;
Documents and letters;
Bank details supplied by the suspect;
Proof of payment;
Screenshots;
Names and claimed ranks;
Case numbers;
Vehicle registration numbers;
Photographs or identification documents supplied by the person.
Do not delete the original communications.
Where money has been transferred, contact the bank immediately and report the matter to SAPS. Speed is important because financial institutions may have limited opportunities to attempt to stop or trace transactions.
THE SSS APPROACH:
Specialised Security Services (SSS) emphasises that victims should not be intimidated
simply because a person presents themselves as a police official, lawyer or investigator.
Professional appearance is not proof of professional identity.
SSS investigations can involve establishing who contacted a victim, determining whether the identity used is genuine,
tracing available evidence and identifying links between individuals, telephone numbers,
bank accounts and other relevant information.
Members of the public should also be cautious when approached by people claiming to represent SSS or Mr. Mike Bolhuis. Any suspicious communication purporting to originate from SSS should be independently verified
before personal information or money is provided.
SSS is an investigation and security organisation and does not operate as a financial adviser or guarantee the recovery of money lost through fraud.
Fake investigators, fake lawyers and fake police officials exploit one of the most effective tools available to a criminal:
trust in authority and professional expertise.
The safest response is not to panic and not to comply immediately. Verify the identity, verify the organisation,
verify the case and independently verify any payment request before taking action.
Members of the public who suspect that they have been targeted by an impersonator,
or who require assistance with a complex fraud or investigation, can contact Mr. Mike Bolhuis and
the SSS Specialist Investigators for professional assistance.
Sensitive matters can be handled confidentially and assessed according to the available evidence.
RELEVANT SSS PROJECTS:
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CONTACT MR MIKE BOLHUIS FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES, PROTECTION, OR AN INVESTIGATION IF NEEDED.
ALL INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL BE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENTIALITY AND EVERY IDENTITY WILL BE PROTECTED.
Regards,
Mike Bolhuis
Specialist Investigators into
Serious Violent, Serious Economic Crimes & Serious Cybercrimes
PSIRA Reg. 1590364/421949
Mobile: +27 82 447 6116
E-mail: mike@mikebolhuis.co.za
Fax: 086 585 4924
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EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: All potential clients need to be aware that owing to the nature of our work as specialist investigators there are people who have been caught on the wrong side of the law - who are trying to discredit me - Mike Bolhuis and my organisation Specialised Security Services - to get themselves off the hook. This retaliation happens on social media and creates doubt about our integrity and ability. Doubt created on social media platforms is both unwarranted and untrue. We strongly recommend that you make up your minds concerning me and our organisation only after considering all the factual information - to the exclusion of hearsay and assumptions. Furthermore, you are welcome to address your concerns directly with me should you still be unsatisfied with your conclusions. While the internet provides a lot of valuable information, it is also a platform that distributes a lot of false information. The distribution of false information, fake news, slander and hate speech constitutes a crime that can be prosecuted by law. Your own research discretion and discernment are imperative when choosing what and what not to believe.
STANDARD RULES APPLY: Upon appointment, we require a formal mandate with detailed instructions. Please take note that should you not make use of our services – you may not under any circumstance use my name or the name of my organisation as a means to achieve whatever end.
POPI ACT 4 of 2013 South Africa: Mike Bolhuis' "Specialised Security Services" falls under Section 6 of the act. Read more here: https://mikebh.link/fntdpv
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