Following a recent spike in extortion cases, Renegades Search & Rescue (RSR) has advised the public to exercise increased vigilance and to report any suspicious activity to the police immediately.
The organisation warned that criminals are increasingly exploiting missing person reports by monitoring social media platforms for family contact details. Once they identify a target, these extortionists contact the distressed families, falsely claiming to have the missing person in their possession or asserting they have vital information on their whereabouts. They then demand money in exchange for this fabricated information.
In a statement, RSR said: “Families are urged not to send money, not to engage with unknown callers, and to save all evidence including messages and call logs. Such incidents must be reported to SAPS immediately, the investigating officer, as well as the assisting missing persons organisations.”
The organisation further emphasised that the public should be mindful of the details they post in the public domain during a crisis. “The public is advised to limit sensitive information shared online to prevent further victimisation,” they added.
By reporting these incidents and preserving digital evidence, families can assist law enforcement in tracking down the syndicates responsible for these predatory scams.
