“Bank repossessed cars” adverts are one of South Africa’s most common frauds. Before you pay anyone anything, verify it through the bank. Standard Bank’s fraud line is 0800 222 050.
ContactDetails.co.za is an independent directory and is not Standard Bank.
How the scam works
It is consistent enough to recognise on sight. An advert offers a repossessed vehicle far below market value, presented as a bank clearing stock quickly.
- A deposit is requested to “secure” the vehicle, usually by EFT, usually to a personal account. That is the whole point of the exercise.
- The seller is urgent, says other buyers are interested, and discourages you from checking with the bank.
- You cannot view the car, or it is in another province, or viewing requires a fee.
- Documents look official, carrying a bank logo lifted from the internet. A letterhead proves nothing.
- The contact is a mobile number and a free email address, not a bank line and not a bank domain.
What is actually true
Banks do dispose of repossessed vehicles. They do it through formal channels, typically auctioneers and approved dealers, not through individuals taking EFT deposits from strangers.
So the test is simple: if the route to buy involves paying a private person to hold a car you have not seen, it is fraud. No genuine bank disposal works that way.
| What it is for | Number |
|---|---|
| Report a new fraud incident | 0800 222 050 |
| From outside South Africa | +27 10 824 2090 |
| Personal banking | 0860 123 000 |
| Complaints | 0860 101 101 |
Verify any repossession offer on 0860 123 000 before paying. One call costs nothing. A deposit sent to a stranger is gone.
Numbers were read from standardbank.co.za on 25 August 2026.