Latest news with #SARS-related
eNCA
21-07-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Kaspersky warns of SARS-themed phishing scams
File: A computer screen flashing the words "Scam Alert". AFP/Tony Karumba JOHANNESBURG - As South Africa's tax season gets underway, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky is urging citizens and businesses to stay vigilant amid a surge in phishing scams. Cybercriminals are increasingly sending fake SARS-related messages, taking advantage of the auto-assessment period to deceive taxpayers. Kaspersky advises the public to think carefully before clicking on suspicious links and to report any suspected scams directly to SARS to avoid falling victim to fraud.
Daily Maverick
24-06-2025
- Daily Maverick
Modack's bookkeeper gets three-year tax fraud sentence
Faried van der Schyff, a former SARS employee, was sentenced to three years' direct imprisonment for tax fraud. He is also alleged underworld figure Nafiz Modack's bookkeeper. The Cape Town Regional Court has sentenced Faried van der Schyff, the bookkeeper of the 'Modack Family Business', to three years in prison for tax fraud, failure to register as a tax practitioner and illegal possession of a cellphone while in custody. The case, separate from the R46-million tax fraud matter against alleged underworld figure Nafiz Modack, stems from Van der Schyff illegally operating as a tax practitioner between 2016 and 2019. The court, which handed down its sentence on Friday, 20 June, gave Van der Schyff three years' direct imprisonment for fraud, two years for failing to register as a tax practitioner, and two years for illegal possession of a cellphone in prison. The sentences will run concurrently. The sentencing comes weeks after Modack was convicted for the first time on 6 June 2025, of corruption charges. NPA Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Van der Schyff provided tax advice to people in Belhar, Athlone and surrounding areas, giving clients the impression that he was knowledgeable and equipped to address all their SARS-related responsibilities. He worked for SARS in the 1990s. 'The accused incorrectly dealt with the tax affairs of members of the public. This situation is like a so-called 'attorney' or a so-called 'doctor' rendering services to the public, whereas the person is not registered to render these services,' Ntabazalila explained on Monday. The case stems from an attempt to defraud SARS when Van der Schyff declared that a taxpayer paid employee's tax of more than R225,000, knowing that the taxpayer was not employed and had not paid any employee's tax. The 'Modack Family Business' Van der Schyff is also one of the accused, along with Modack, Modack's mother Ruwaida, his brother Yaseen, as well as Bashier Syce, Nadia Sait, Layla Bedderson, Dominique McLachlan and Kulsum van der Schyff, in the R46-million SARS fraud and corruption case, which centres on the State's allegations that Modack and others claimed VAT refunds that were not owed to them. The State claims the businesses involved were registered as VAT vendors and collectively styled as 'Modack Family Business'. According to the indictment against them, Modack was the head of the family business and, with his mother Ruwaida and Van der Schyff, managed the enterprise's activities. Van der Schyff was previously convicted of fraud in 2020. The fraud was committed in August 2019 in Gordon's Bay, and he was sentenced to a fine of R4,000 or 12 months' imprisonment, wholly suspended for three years on condition that he was not convicted of fraud or a similar offence committed during the period of suspension. Recusal application In a new twist to Modack's SARS case, he requested that Judge Mark Sher recuse himself from the trial. The application centres on Sher's ruling, dismissing his appeal against a decision to deny him bail in the Charl Kinnear murder case. Advocate Bash Sibda, counsel for Modack, highlighted specific paragraphs from the judgment which they submitted raised legitimate concerns about Sher's continued involvement. The paragraphs referred to include Sher's comments: 'Modack and [co-accused Jacques] Cronje are a danger to society and need to be kept inside a correctional facility pending the outcome of their trials. 'As is further evident from my discussion of the evidence, it appears that Modack is the head of a sprawling criminal enterprise which has committed several serious offences over a number of years.' The State is considering its position. A finding on the recusal will be delivered in July, while the SARS fraud trial is set to begin on 28 July. DM
