Johannesburg pensioner says fraudsters stole R1.276m in airline phishing scam

A Johannesburg pensioner says fraudsters stole R1.276 million from her bank accounts after responding to what she was told was an airline promotion. According to The South African, the alleged theft affected accounts held with Nedbank and Standard Bank.

What happened

According to The South African, 63-year-old Luisa Elisabetta Westphal from Dowerglen in east Johannesburg lost funds after clicking a link sent by a caller posing as an airline representative. The report states the fraudsters allegedly withdrew R994,300 from a Nedbank home loan access bond account, R82,800 from a Nedbank credit card account and R199,000 from her husband’s Standard Bank account, bringing the alleged total to R1,276,100.

Bank response and dispute

According to The South African, Westphal said she did not authorise the transactions and did not provide an OTP, PIN or biometric verification. The report states Nedbank opened a fraud case on 2 October 2025 and investigated the matter, later concluding that fraudsters had gained access using her logon credentials and finding the bank was not liable for the losses. The report adds that Nedbank offered Westphal a R20,000 goodwill payment as a full and final settlement.

The South African further reports that while the fraud dispute remained unresolved, Nedbank pursued her for arrears linked to the affected accounts. The publication sent questions to Nedbank about the allegations and the outcome of its investigation; Nedbank had not responded by the time of publication.

Broader fraud concerns

The case is cited in the report amid growing concern over online fraud in South Africa. The report notes that criminals frequently impersonate trusted organisations and use fraudulent links to gain access to victims’ banking credentials and financial information.

Practical precautions for older South Africans

Based on how the alleged scam unfolded in this case and the patterns the report describes, take these simple precautions:

• Do not click unexpected links in messages or calls that claim to be promotions or offers.
• Verify callers by contacting the company using official numbers or channels you trust, rather than numbers provided in the suspicious message.
• Never share one-time passwords (OTPs), PINs or biometric prompts with anyone who contacts you.

If you suspect fraud

If you notice unauthorised transactions, contact your bank’s fraud department promptly and ask for a formal fraud case to be opened. Keep written records of all communications with the bank.

This article is based on reporting in The South African.