Two Massachusetts residents pleaded guilty in federal court last week to stealing or receiving stolen government funds, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney.
A 70-year-old woman from Brockton pleaded guilty to stealing a tax refund check that came in around one million dollars, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney.
Lana Ruel pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds Thursday after she was arrested and charged in December.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ruel tried to deposit a U.S. Treasury tax refund check of $931,000. The check was made out to a New York healthcare company, whose name Ruel used to incorporate a separate business in Massachusetts and open a bank account before trying to deposit the check.
When she deposited the check, the bank froze her account, the statement said.
Ruel told the bank she could “explain what the…
If you suspect you have been targeted by fraudsters, time is your most valuable asset. In the world of cybersecurity, we refer to the “Golden Hour”—the first 60 minutes after a compromise where you have the highest chance of stopping a transaction or preventing identity theft.
Here is your updated South African Fraud Response Action Plan:
PHASE 1: IMMEDIATE ISOLATION (0–30 MINUTES)
Do not wait for a “clear sign” that money has left your account. If you have shared a PIN, OTP, or clicked a suspicious link, act immediately.
Call your Bank’s Fraud Line: Do not use the general customer service number; use the dedicated 24/7 fraud lines listed in the table below.
- Request a “Global Hold”: Ask the agent to place a temporary hold on all digital banking channels, not just your physical cards.
- Secure your Email: If you suspect your email was hacked, change the password immediately and “Log out of all other sessions” in your security settings.
- Kill Remote Access: If you gave someone remote access (via AnyDesk or TeamViewer), disconnect your internet immediately and uninstall the software.
PHASE 2: OFFICIAL REPORTING (1–24 HOURS)
To claim from insurance or the bank, you must have a police case number.
- Visit a SAPS Station: You must lay a formal charge in person. Bring your ID and printouts of the fraudulent transactions or messages.
- The Affidavit: Explicitly state that you want a case opened for investigation.
- Get the CAS Number: Ensure you leave with a Case (CAS) Number. This is the “key” that unlocks further help from the SAFPS and the Bank’s forensics team.
PHASE 3: IDENTITY PROTECTION & DISPUTE (24 HOURS+)
- Register with SAFPS: Contact the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service. They provide “Protective Registration” which alerts all banks and retailers to extra-verify any new credit applications in your name.
- Escalate to the Ombudsman: If your bank refuses to refund you and you feel they were negligent (e.g., they didn’t spot a clear SIM-swap), you can lodge a free complaint with the National Financial Ombudsman.
2026 SOUTH AFRICA FRAUD DIRECTORY
- SAPS Crime Stop: 08600 10111 – saps.gov.za
- SAFPS (Identity Theft): 011 867 2234 – protection@safps.org.za
- National Financial Ombudsman: 0860 800 900 – info@nfosa.co.za
- Standard Bank Fraud: 0800 222 050 – reportfraud@standardbank.co.za
- FNB Fraud Line: 087 575 9444 – phishing@fnb.co.za
- ABSA Fraud Hotline: 0860 557 557 – cibfraud@absa.africa
- Nedbank Fraud Line: 0800 110 929 – phishing@nedbank.co.za
- Capitec Fraud Line: 0860 10 20 43 (WhatsApp) – 067 418 9565
- Discovery Bank Fraud: 011 324 4444 – discovery.co.za