A new South African pilot is offering free, anonymous, step-by-step cyber support, and early data shows most victims are dealing with it alone.
South Africans who fall victim to cybercrime now have more support available. The Cyber Helpline (UK), MiDO Academy, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have launched the South African pilot of The Cyber Helpline, a free, confidential service for people affected by online fraud, scams, hacked accounts, harassment and sextortion.
The pilot has been collecting case data since December 2025, and early findings suggest many South African victims never tell anyone in authority. Of those who answered the question, 74% had not reported their experience to the police. Investment scams are the most common named attack type, followed by online shopping and auction fraud, with harassment and sextortion also appearing in cases. The people reaching out are mostly working-age adults: around nine in ten recorded ages fall between 18 and 65, with the largest groups aged 25 to 39 and 40 to 65.
“Many people simply don’t know where to turn when something happens to them online. MiDO’s responders have all been vetted, and trained in cybersecurity practices, and have completed our incident and victim response training. We look forward to sharing knowledge across both organisations and supporting the people of South Africa, said Rory Innes, Founder and CEO of The Cyber Helpline.
The service works in steps:
- Users start with a 24/7 chatbot on thecyberhelpline.com that asks a few anonymous questions, then receive tailored guidance on securing accounts, preserving evidence and knowing where to report.
- Anyone who needs more help can request support from a trained local responder, who will get in touch via the phone or chat.
The helpline cannot recover money or investigate crimes, so it refers victims to banks, the South African Police Service or specialist services where appropriate.
The pilot is a partnership between The Cyber Helpline UK, which provides the operational model and responder training; AWS, which funds the pilot and hosts the service on its infrastructure; MiDO Academy, which houses the project and mobilises local student volunteers and KnowBe4 Africa, who conceptualised the initiative and contributes staff time through its ongoing commitment to improving cyber safety across Africa.
Student responders work alongside experienced supervisors, gaining real-world incident experience while they build their careers.
The service is available to anyone in South Africa aged 13 and over who has been affected by a cyber incident, at thecyberhelpline.com.
About The Cyber Helpline
The Cyber Helpline is a charity providing free, expert support to individuals affected by cybercrime, digital fraud and online harm, including hacked accounts, scams, cyberstalking, harassment, and other online threats. Combining technology with a community of trained cybersecurity volunteers and specialist staff, The Cyber Helpline provides 24/7 self-help alongside confidential one-to-one support from cybersecurity experts. The service helps people understand what has happened, contain the problem, protect themselves from further harm, and stay safe online. Since 2018, more than two million people have accessed its guidance, with more than 100,000 people receiving direct support.
The UK launched a pilot in the USA around four years ago and continues to support the market today. South Africa is the third region in which The Cyber Helpline is supporting the development of a local service, with the South African pilot taking a locally adapted approach to delivery and sustainability.
About MiDO Academy
MiDO Academy is a South African social impact organisation dedicated to creating pathways into cybersecurity careers through education, industry collaborations and practical experience. Its mission is to build cyber resilience while expanding opportunities for young people across Africa
