ISS urges vigilance after woman was scammed by an inmate

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) is urging young people to trust their instincts and be cautious of any offer – including jobs to legal assistance – that requires upfront payment.

ISS’s organised crime expert, Martin Ewi, has advised people to seek guidance from colleagues, friends, or family and consider reporting suspicious activity to the police.

The warning follows the case in which a woman, previously cleared of a 2006 murder charge, was scammed 16 years later by a prisoner posing as a Hawks officer.

According to a Hawks, Bonginkosi Masango convinced the woman that the case had been reopened and tricked her into paying over R41,000 to avoid arrest. His cousin, Koosnight Mahlangu, was also implicated. Both have appeared in court, with the case postponed to 6 October 2025.

#sapsHAWKS Mpumalanga: A woman lost R41 760 after jailed rapist Bonginkosi Masango (29) posed as a Hawks officer, claiming her old murder case was reopened.
Hawks in Middelburg traced him after arresting his cousin Koosnight Mahlangu (28) on 3/09. They appeared in court on 4/09,… pic.twitter.com/gzvwsq26Cp

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) September 4, 2025

Ewi says ignoring red flags such as suspicious behavior, pressure to pay quickly, or lack of trust in the interaction can lead to poor decisions and worse consequences.

“If the perpetrator, the criminal, was really a police officer, it would still be the wrong thing to do to rush to any payment. So again, though we sympathize with the victim, I think that the victim had some options to prevent this incident from happening the way it did. So I thought that the option of talking to friends, talking to family members, let them come up with options, so that you know how to deal with it. “

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has also echoed the warning, urging the public to report any red flags for scams immediately.

Mpumalanga Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel, Magonseni Nkosi, has advised always asking for proper identification before handing over money.

He added that while the funds lost by the woman have not yet been recovered, investigations are ongoing, with the Asset Forfeiture Unit and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) now involved.

“We are working in partnership with our state departments, of which I can say the first one is our mother body, the SAPS. And we are working with the correctional centers as well. They are trying to strengthen the security within the prisons. But the only challenge that we’ve got is that not everyone is within the system, and is there for justice. We’ve got a few rotten potatoes who might be part of the syndicates or who might be aiding these people.”