You didn’t buy the furniture. You didn’t apply for the loan. You didn’t authorise the transaction. So why are you the one being chased for the money?

Fraud in South Africa is increasingly moving beyond stolen cash and into consumers’ credit accounts, leaving some victims to fight debts, collection activity and potentially damaging credit consequences for transactions they never made.

The National Financial Ombud Scheme South Africa (NFO) recorded a 46% increase in fraud-related complaints in its non-bank credit division, rising from 124 cases in 2025 to 181 in 2026.

While the fraudster disappears after the scam, the consequences remain with the victim.

Nerosha Maseti, the lead ombud for banking and credit at the NFO, says fraudsters are increasingly targeting not only money, but the information, credentials and trust behind a transaction.

“The fraudster may make the transaction, but the consequences can follow the consumer in the form of debt, collection activity and potentially adverse credit information.”

Here are five ways a scam can become a debt problem.

1. The phone call that turns into an R18 000 debt

An NFO case illustrates how easily a legitimate-looking fraud alert can become a financial nightmare.

A consumer disputed an R18 488.80 online purchase made on their retail store credit account. The consumer said they received a call from someone claiming to be a representative of the retailer, warning them about fraudulent activity and offering to help.

Shortly afterwards, the disputed transaction went through.

The credit provider found that the purchase had been authenticated using a one-time password (OTP) sent to the consumer’s registered cellphone. There was no evidence of a Sim swap or system compromise.

The NFO concluded that the consumer had likely been deceived into revealing the OTP during a voice phishing (vishing) scam and accepted that they were a genuine fraud victim.

But being a victim of fraud did not automatically mean the debt could be written off.

The NFO found no evidence of negligence or system failure by the credit provider and no legal or equitable basis to reverse the transaction.

The lesson: Being scammed and being able to have the resulting debt cancelled are not necessarily the same thing.

2. The purchase you never made

Fraudsters don’t necessarily need your physical card to use your credit facility.

The NFO says it is seeing cases involving card-not-present transactions, stolen card details, phishing, vishing and misuse of security credentials.

That means a transaction can take place online without the fraudster ever having your physical card in their possession.

And if the purchase is made against a retail, furniture or other credit account, the result can be more than money disappearing from an account. It can leave the consumer with a disputed balance that needs to be investigated and resolved.

3. The loan you never applied for

Your identity can also become a fraudster’s ticket to credit.

The NFO’s case experience includes fraudulent personal-loan applications and identity theft.

For the victim, discovering that credit has been taken out in their name can be only the beginning. They may then have to challenge the agreement, provide information to the credit provider and potentially deal with collection activity or disputes over whether the credit was legitimately obtained.

4. When the scam becomes a collection problem

Ignoring a fraudulent transaction won’t necessarily make it disappear.

The NFO warns that an unresolved unauthorised transaction can result in a growing account balance, interest and other charges, collection activity and continued disputes over whether the transaction was authorised.

That is why consumers who believe they have been defrauded should report the matter immediately rather than simply stop paying the account and hope it gets sorted out.

Maseti says consumers should formally challenge the transaction and keep a written record of everything they do to resolve the matter.

5. When someone else’s fraud follows you onto your credit record

The consequences can potentially extend beyond the original transaction.

The NFO says consumers may face credit-reporting consequences, including disputes involving fraud listings with the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service, depending on the circumstances.

This is what makes credit-related fraud particularly serious: The financial damage isn’t necessarily confined to the original purchase or loan.

A victim can find themselves spending time trying to clear their name, resolve a disputed debt and protect their financial record.

What should you do if you suspect fraud?

The NFO recommends five immediate steps:

Stop: Cut off contact with the suspected fraudster. Do not share any further personal, banking or security information.

Report: Contact your credit provider immediately using an official telephone number or website.

Secure: Change compromised passwords and secure affected accounts and devices.

Dispute: Formally challenge the unauthorised transaction or credit agreement. Get a reference number and keep statements, SMSes, emails, screenshots, WhatsApp messages and other evidence.

Escalate: If the matter remains unresolved, approach the NFO, provided the complaint falls within its jurisdiction.

Where can you get help?

The NFO’s services are free to consumers. Consumers should first lodge their complaint directly with their credit provider and give the provider an opportunity to resolve the matter.

If it remains unresolved and falls within the NFO’s jurisdiction, consumers can escalate the complaint to the ombud.

NFO: 0860 800 900
WhatsApp: 066 473 0157
Email: info@nfosa.co.za

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