A man named Marius Van Heerden phoned my relatives, pretending to be a detective. He knows my address and is attempting to extract info. Suspected identity theft; reported to police. His other line is 0118965806.
Scammy Calls from 'Detective' – Beware! - +27 83 449 8700 (083 449 8700)
Summary — +27834498700
Expert Opinion
Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, this caller slips into conversations by pretending to be a detective, aiming to extract personal details for potential identity theft. Reports describe Marius Van Heerden using intimidation tactics, such as claiming knowledge of your location, to pressure families for information. This fits patterns of social engineering scams where fraudsters impersonate authorities to build trust quickly. Telecom trends show such calls surging via VoIP to mask origins, often linked to broader data harvesting rings. Practical steps: Never share info over unsolicited calls; verify claims independently by contacting official sources directly; block the number and report to your carrier or authorities like the FTC. Enable call screening features on your phone to filter unknowns, and monitor credit reports for suspicious activity.