South Africa has seen a surge in scams, each more elaborate than the last. But a new and deeply troubling development is emerging—one that goes beyond online deception and questionable investment schemes.
Scammers have always sought ways to appear credible, whether by staging grand donation drives, flaunting flashy offices, or associating with well-known figures. But now, they have found a new tool to manipulate public trust—the South African Police Service (SAPS).
It starts subtly. A few friendly meet-and-greets with officers, informal lunches, staged photo opportunities. And before long, scammers are no longer just engaging with SAPS officers—they are physically stepping inside police stations under the guise of “donations” and community work.
This is no longer just about deception. It is about how law enforcement, knowingly or unknowingly, is being used as a tool to legitimise fraud.
And the consequences of this infiltration are far-reaching—because when the police lend their presence, their uniforms, and their credibility to a scam, it becomes nearly impossible for the public to tell what is real and what isn’t.
The Danger of Police Endorsement in Scams
For many South Africans who are not well-versed in what constitutes legitimacy, the presence and endorsement—whether direct or indirect—of police officers provides a significant boost to the credibility of these scams.
Law enforcement carries an authority that scammers exploit with calculated precision, and this makes police presence at their events one of their most effective marketing tactics.
This is a point I previously explored in my article on legitimacy and scams: Legitimacy is Not an Abstract Concept – How to Avoid Scams in South Africa.
Following the collapse of Tiger Agriculture, many victims struggled to accept that they had been defrauded. How could it have been a scam, they asked, when there had been numerous in-person events, with SAPS officers in attendance, posing for photos and shaking hands with its organisers?
The same playbook was used with Trouva, where high-profile endorsements, carefully staged appearances, and extravagant marketing campaigns convinced even cautious investors that the operation was legitimate.
Initially, scammers take a soft approach—inviting individual officers to friendly, informal gatherings, which may seem harmless at first. But once police presence is established, even in the smallest way, it becomes a powerful marketing asset for the scam.
People inherently trust the police, and seeing officers at events—even in a casual, personal capacity—sends the message that the operation is above board. And from there, scammers escalate their tactics, leveraging that illusion of credibility to attract more victims.
This manipulation of public trust is why police must be extremely cautious about how and where they appear, especially when dealing with private entities that claim to be involved in “investments” or financial opportunities.
Yet, instead of rejecting these advances, SAPS is becoming a willing participant in these legitimacy scams—whether out of ignorance, negligence, or something worse.
The Brazen Infiltration of Police Stations
While not all scams rise to the level of notoriety as Tiger Agriculture or Trouva, one emerging scheme that has aggressively pursued offline legitimacy through police involvement is Dazzle Brilliance Diamond (DBD).
I previously detailed its resurgence here: Dazzle Brilliance Diamond Resurges – The Scam That Refuses to Go Away.
DBD has taken the police involvement strategy a step further by not just inviting officers to informal gatherings but physically entering police stations under the guise of donations. They have provided police stations with items such as food, bar fridges, walkie-talkies, and even visibility vests branded with DBD’s logo.
The issue? SAPS has no business accepting these so-called donations in the first place. This is not a community neighbourhood watch group or a community policing forum—this is supposed to be a state-funded law enforcement body, backed by taxpayer money.
The fact that SAPS is taking handouts from external entities is not just unethical; it is a symptom of a failing state.
Making matters worse, much of what DBD has donated is not even usable by SAPS—not that SAPS should be accepting them even if they were.
Walkie-talkies and visibility vests, for example, are standard-issue equipment that must adhere to SAPS regulations, including branding and operational specifications.
These are not items that can simply be handed over by private entities and incorporated into active duty use. But usability is not even the core problem—it is the fact that SAPS is allowing itself to be co-opted into the legitimacy machinery of a scam.
By default, this is a conflict of interest. Law enforcement must remain independent and impartial, ensuring that all are equal before the law. This independence is compromised the moment SAPS accepts gifts or external funding from outside sources.
The moment a scam collapses—as DBD inevitably will—the very same police officers who accepted these “donations” will be expected to investigate the fraud.
Beyond the conflict of interest, it does not inspire confidence for SAPS to be interacting with such characters, let alone receiving donations from them.
The police are supposed to serve and protect the public, not be seen fraternising with individuals running dubious schemes. The presence of SAPS in these events is not just a bad look—it actively aids scammers in deceiving the public.
The Final Verdict
This is not just about incompetence. It is about the very integrity of law enforcement in South Africa. When SAPS officers pose for pictures with scam leaders, when police stations allow themselves to be used as PR props for fraudulent schemes, they are actively enabling crime.
The implications of this reckless engagement are catastrophic. By allowing itself to be associated with scams, SAPS is not just eroding public trust—it is setting a dangerous precedent for criminals.
If fraudsters now know they can buy legitimacy with a few bar fridges and fake donations, what stops more organised criminal syndicates from using the same playbook?
This must end immediately. SAPS must publicly disavow any engagement with fraudulent enterprises, and there must be full accountability for the officers and officials who have participated in these staged events.
Furthermore, SAPS leadership must reinforce and enforce policies that forbid any entity—especially private companies and so-called investment schemes—from using police stations as part of their marketing.
If this pattern of police complicity continues, South Africa will soon reach a point where the line between law enforcement and financial predators disappears altogether.
Because make no mistake—if SAPS keeps letting scammers exploit them, it won’t just be victims who suffer. It will be the complete collapse of public confidence in the police itself.