South Africa records 17.47 billion spam calls in first half of 2026

South African users received 17.47 billion spam calls between January and June 2026, marking a 25.2% rise from the 13.96 billion calls recorded in the same period the previous year, according to caller ID and spam protection platform Truecaller. This surge in spam activity reflects the escalating sophistication of scam networks, which now employ advanced tactics such as caller ID spoofing and generative artificial intelligence to deceive victims.

Truecaller users successfully blocked 7.18 billion of the recorded 17.47 billion spam calls, a 58.6% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The rise in spam attempts extended to text messages, with Truecaller identifying 3.71 billion spam messages in the first six months of 2026, a 58.9% jump year-on-year. Additionally, the company's community-driven reporting network detected 559 million new spam numbers between March and June 2026.

Despite the increase in spam calls, fewer South Africans answered identified spam calls, with the proportion falling from 10.2% in 2025 to 7.8% in 2026. Mmathebe Zvobwo, Truecaller's Director of Market Development for South Africa, emphasized that scam networks are becoming more sophisticated through the use of spoofing and AI-driven tactics, making it more challenging for victims to discern legitimate from fraudulent calls.

Truecaller's community-reporting model allows users to flag suspicious numbers, which contributes to the company's ability to identify and filter emerging spam numbers within hours of their appearance. Truecaller recommends that consumers avoid engaging with unknown or unfamiliar international numbers, refrain from sharing sensitive information over the phone, and report suspicious calls to protect other users from potential scams.