In a chilling series of events, three women have bravely shared their disturbing experiences on TikTok, revealing how they were nearly scammed by individuals pretending to be hitmen hired to kill them. These fraudulent threats, aimed at extorting money and causing fear, have left the women shaken, but they are speaking out to warn others about the dangers of sharing personal information online.
Ma Khumalo, the first to speak up, recalled a harrowing incident that began when she returned home one Sunday. “I was editing my content videos,” she explained, “when I got a call from a man who identified himself as Mr. Nkosi, saying he was a hitman hired to kill me.” The man claimed that a woman had hired him because Ma Khumalo was allegedly dating her boyfriend.
Shocked and confused, Ma Khumalo denied the accusation. “I told him he must have the wrong number. Why would anyone want to kill me?” But the hitman, refusing to back down, insisted that she had to explain herself. “I’m giving you a chance to explain yourself,” he threatened. “But I have a way of dealing with people like you, and you will see what happens.”
The situation escalated when the hitman sent her a video of a woman being murdered, further intensifying her fear. “He said this is what will happen to me,” Ma Khumalo recounted. The man even revealed that he had been tracking her, providing her car number plate. It wasn’t until Ma Khumalo asked the hitman for the name of the alleged lover that he changed his story, admitting the threat was based on an old relationship. “That’s when I knew this was a scam,” she said, urging others not to share personal details, including phone numbers, online.
Nelo, another woman who shared her experience, described receiving a call late one night from a man claiming to be a hitman named Mr. Nkosi. “He said someone had hired him to kill me because I was involved with her man,” Nelo said. The hitman’s aggressive tone left her frightened. “I don’t know who this is, and I’ve never been with anyone’s man,” she said, still shaken. He then asked her to continue the conversation via WhatsApp, where he showed her a disturbing video of a woman being murdered. “He said, ‘This is how we deal with people like you,’” Nelo recalled.
Although terrified, Nelo ignored the threats and blocked the number. “I checked the number on True Caller, and it turned out to be a scam,” she shared, thankful she had seen similar TikTok stories warning about such scams. Nelo also mentioned Asanda’s story, another woman who had gone through a similar experience.
Asanda’s experience mirrored the others. She received a call from a man claiming to be a hitman hired by her ex-boyfriend to kill her for cheating in 2021. “I hadn’t even dated anyone who could afford a hitman,” Asanda said. When the man threatened her, saying he could see her from outside her window, she knew it was a scam. “I live in a place where no one can see into my windows,” she explained, blocking the number immediately.
Asanda’s response was to protect herself and her family. “I started sharing my location with my family and was more cautious when traveling,” she admitted. The experience left her traumatised, and she now feels uneasy every time an unknown number calls. “It’s made me anxious, especially when a random man approaches me,” she said.
All three women caution others to be careful about sharing personal details online, especially their phone numbers, which can be exploited by scammers.
These scams have been quite popular since last year, According to Limpopo police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe, this dangerous scam has victimized several individuals, including three government officials. The perpetrators contact victims, claiming they were hired to kill them and demand payment to call off the supposed hit.
In a related scam, criminals impersonate Hawks officers, tricking victims into paying large sums of money to avoid fake legal repercussions. Hadebe revealed that two businessmen received calls from someone claiming to be a Hawks investigator who demanded bribes to prevent prosecution. She urged the public to remain vigilant, verify the identity of suspicious callers, and refuse any demands for money. Residents are encouraged to report any suspected scams to the nearest police station or contact SAPS Crime Stop at 08600-10111.
