South Africa has been named among the top 10 countries in the world most affected by spam calls
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South Africa has been named among the top 10 countries in the world most affected by spam calls.
This is according to the latest Truecaller Global Insights Report, which shows that around one in three unknown calls in the country is now flagged as spam.
The report is based on an analysis of billions of spam and fraud calls recorded globally. It shows that South Africa is dealing with a growing number of unwanted calls, with insurance-related calls making up about 14% of spam and financial services around 10%, followed by debt collection at about 6% of the spam reaching users.
“This is a uniquely South African trend,” Mmathebe Zvobwo, Director of Market Development for South Africa at Truecaller, said.
“It shows that spam in our market is not only about fraud; it’s also about aggressive, high-volume outreach that erodes trust in legitimate
communication. When people stop answering their phones, the entire communication ecosystem breaks down — for individuals, businesses, and institutions."
According to the report, the problem is not slowing down, with spam and fraud activity continuing to rise.
• 8.72 billion spam calls identified in Q1 of 2026, compared to 30.3 billion in 2025
• 3.33 billion spam calls in March alone (up 34% year-on-year)
• 1.92 billion spam messages identified in Q1 of 2026
• Over 151 million new spammers detected in March 2026, versus an average of 1 million
detected per month in 2025
• Over 3.45 billion spam calls blocked in Q1 of 2026 (up 80% year-on-year)
The reports added that "as spam volumes increase, the impact is no longer just nuisance; it is behavioural. South Africans are increasingly ignoring unknown calls"
"The scale of what this data shows should concern everyone. Fraud, impersonation, and scams are affecting people's daily lives in a way we have never seen before".
"In some countries, most unknown calls are now spam – that is a fundamental breakdown in how communication works.
Despite the growing threat, the report notes that South Africa is one of the top markets in Africa for blocked calls, with about 11.3 billion blocked in 2025 and 3.45 billion in Q1 2026, as more people use call-blocking tools.
• Be cautious of urgent or emotionally manipulative calls
• Never share PINs, OTPs, or passwords over the phone
• Avoid clicking unknown links in SMS messages
• Verify callers independently when in doubt
• Report suspicious numbers to protect others
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za
IOL Business