AI Is Making Scams Harder to Spot — Don’t Let It Fool You

Gone are the days of obvious phishing emails filled with spelling mistakes and clumsy formatting. Today, scammers are using artificial intelligence to create professional-looking emails, SMSes and messages that closely resemble legitimate communications from organisations like SARS.

What used to be an easy red flag — poor grammar, strange fonts, or a suspicious sender address — is no longer a reliable warning sign. AI tools now allow criminals to replicate official branding, tone and language almost perfectly, making it increasingly difficult for the average taxpayer to tell a genuine SARS communication from a fraudulent one.

Before you click on any link, take a moment to consider whether the message shows any of these common red flags:

SARS has made it clear that it will never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, CVVs or one-time PINs (OTPs) via email, SMS or telephone. Any communication requesting this kind of sensitive information should be treated as a scam, regardless of how convincing it appears.

With AI making fraudulent communications more sophisticated than ever, the golden rule is simple: verify, don’t trust.

Always log into your SARS profile directly through the official SARS eFiling website or the official SARS MobiApp. Avoid relying on links sent to you in emails, SMSes or WhatsApp messages — even if they appear to come from a trusted source. Typing the address yourself or using the official app removes the risk entirely.

If you’re ever unsure whether a SARS communication is genuine, Weyers Accounting Services is here to help you verify it before you act. A quick check before you click could save you from significant financial and personal harm.

Contact Weyers Accounting Services
083 413 3674
mari@weyersas.co.za

Accurate. Reliable. Trusted