Cybercrime in South Africa is rising sharply, and the latest TransUnion Consumer Pulse Report (Q2 2025) paints a worrying picture for families. Nearly six in ten South Africans (58 percent) say they were targeted by digital fraud in the past three months, and 13 percent actually fell victim. These numbers show that cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, more aggressive and more successful than before .
For parents, this means one thing: protecting children online is no longer optional — it is essential.
The State of Cybercrime in South Africa
1. Fraud is widespread — and it’s getting smarter
The report shows that:
- 46 percent of South Africans were targeted by a scam but managed to avoid falling victim.
- 13 percent were targeted and became victims — a noticeable increase from the previous quarter.
- 42 percent did not notice any attempts, which often means the attacks were invisible or went unnoticed.
This breakdown, shown clearly confirms that scammers are becoming harder to detect, especially for young people who trust what they see online.
2. The most common scams affecting families
Cybercriminals target victims through the platforms children use daily — messages, social media and online services. According to Figure 18 on page 8:
- Money or gift card scams – 33 percent
- Phishing emails – 31 percent
- Smishing (SMS scams) – 30 percent
- Vishing (scam calls) – 29 percent
- Third-party seller scams – 28 percent (fake online stores or marketplace posts)
- Account takeover attacks – 15 percent
These scams are designed to trick people into sharing passwords, paying fake fees, downloading malware or giving away personal information.
Children and teens are especially vulnerable because scammers often disguise themselves as influencers, game sites, competitions or online “friends”.
How South Africans are Responding — And Where the Gaps Are
1. Most people try to protect themselves… but it’s not enough
The report shows that South Africans are more cautious:
- 88 percent are worried about sharing personal information online.
- 59 percent changed passwords in the past 60 days.
- 25 percent enabled multi-factor authentication (MFA).
These actions are positive, but only 12 percent signed up for identity monitoring after a breach, and 21 percent took no action at all when concerned about cybersecurity.
The main reasons for doing nothing?
- People felt unsure of the right steps to take.
- They were overwhelmed by too much conflicting information.
- Some did not want to spend time or money on protection.
If adults feel confused, imagine how children feel.
2. Identity theft is growing
When people were notified that their personal information had been stolen, their responses included:
- Changing passwords (44 percent)
- Checking for unauthorised account activity (36 percent)
- Cancelling payment methods (26 percent)
- Closing compromised accounts (29 percent)
Identity theft is no longer a rare event — it is something families must actively prepare for.
Why This Matters for Parents
Children are now prime digital targets
Cybercriminals know that:
- Kids often reuse the same password everywhere.
- Teens overshare personal information on social media.
- Younger users do not expect scams.
- Children access family phones, devices and online accounts.
Once a child’s identity is stolen, it can be used for years without being detected because parents rarely check credit activity for minors.
How to Keep Your Children Safer Online
1. Teach the “Ask First” rule
Children must ask a parent before:
- Clicking a link
- Downloading anything
- Sharing a password
- Entering banking or card details
- Responding to unexpected messages
This one rule prevents most scams.
2. Use strong protection on all devices
Encourage your family to:
- Use strong passwords or passphrases
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Install reputable antivirus software
- Turn on automatic updates
- Activate parental controls
These simple steps block many known cyber-attacks.
3. Talk about scams regularly
Share examples with your children:
- Fake competitions
- Fake influencer giveaways
- Fake “you won a voucher” WhatsApps
- Fake online store discounts
- Fake school-related messages
Normalising these conversations strengthens children’s critical thinking.
4. Check your child’s digital footprint
You should periodically:
- Review social media privacy settings
- Limit who can see what your child posts
- Remove identifying information (school name, home area, birthday)
- Check for unknown logins on their accounts
A smaller footprint equals fewer risks.
5. Monitor your family’s credit and accounts
The TransUnion report shows 55 percent of South Africans now check their credit reports at least monthly. This is an important habit because it helps you detect:
- Unknown accounts
- Fraudulent loans
- Unauthorised transactions
- Identity theft signs
If something looks wrong, report it immediately.
Final Thoughts
The TransUnion Q2 2025 Consumer Pulse Report makes one thing extremely clear: cybercrime in South Africa is rising, faster than most families realise. Scammers are targeting people across all age groups, and children are increasingly vulnerable because their digital lives are expanding faster than their ability to recognise risks.
Parents don’t need to be cybersecurity experts — but they do need to stay informed, stay alert and teach digital safety skills at home.
Click Safe Online will continue sharing practical guidance to help you keep your children safer in the digital world.
Keeping kids safer online.