Below is a list of South African mobile numbers confirmed to be involved in race entry scamming. Their modus operandi is to create fake profiles on Facebook so there is no point in listing the names as they are fake and will keep changing.
This list will be updated as new scamming numbers emerge – feel free to email me on therunningmann@gmail.com or DM on my social media profiles with scammer details.
I have listed the numbers in two formats so that they are easily picked up on Google searches. The scammers also sell fake concert tickets and accommodation so if you found this article on a Google search and the number is listed below you can be confident it’s a scam.
0613768742 / +27613768742
0632362254 / +27632362254
0634868858 / +27634868858
0653492730 / +27653492730
0664501472 / +27664501472
0665184568 / +27665184568
0684256536 / +27684256536
0710537060 / +27710537060
0712587359 / +27712587359
0716283981 / +27716283981
0721238728 / +27721238728
0721708756 / +27721708756
0724794976 / +27724794976
0730140328 / +27730140328
0738823545 / +27738823545
0748775469 / +27748775469
0765294854 / +27765294854
0774926909 / +27774926909
0782272733 / +27782272733
0786371652 / +27786371652
0793791433 / +27793791433
0790420129 / +27790420129
0793791433 / +27793791433
0798939421 / +27798939421
With thanks to Demitri Baroutsos and others who have provided most of the information.
General Pointers on Avoiding Getting Scammed
I will do a more detailed article on avoiding scam artists but in the interim, here are some general pointers on race entry scammers:
They will almost have a locked Facebook profile like the one below. They also seem to have various cities listed in their personal details.
They will insist of being paid via hard to trace methods like e-wallets. They will generally not use EFT and will make up elaborate reasons as to why they can’t go through the standard process.
Many races have a published list of entrants so you can easily check if the person selling the entry actually has an entry. For example you can check all Comrades 2026 entrants here: https://results.finishtime.co.za/results.aspx?CId=35&RId=30206
For races where there a very high demand for entries, it is very unlikely that some rando will reply to your Facebook post offering entries without it being a scam. See below examples of scam replies.
They will not take any direct calls but will only message on WhatsApp. Occasionally, voice notes will be used.
If you post that you are “desperately” looking for entries, you will definitely get some attention from the scammers. I would treat all responses as suspicious until proven otherwise.
The scammers will produce fake entry confirmations and other documentation. Often these will not stand up to scrutiny, like Oxford Striders in the Eastern Cape being listed as a Western Cape club.
Specifically for Two Oceans, all substitutions including charity entries – can only go through the official entry portal. Anyone who asks you for money directly is a scammer. I expect that the same will be true for Comrades.
Follow Running Mann:
Facebook is full of scam adverts. Personally I would not trust any product that was promoted by a Facebook advert.
That is a bold take! It’s like a plot twist in a heist movie where the “victim” realises they were trying to pull a fast one too. There’s certainly a certain “karmic irony” when someone trying to cut the line or snag an illicit ticket ends up being the one getting played.
Here is a lighthearted, slightly cheeky response to that list of numbers:
The “Shortcut” Tax: A Fun Post-Mortem 🏃♂️💸
It looks like these scammers are running a very specific type of marathon the “Catch Me If You Can” 5K. While it’s great to have a public “Wall of Shame” for these mobile numbers, let’s take a second to look at the other side of the coin.
The Irony of the “Hustle”
There is a certain poetic justice here, isn’t there? Most of these scams work because someone is trying to:
Skip the Queue: Bypassing the official sold-out race entries.
Snag a “Deal”: Getting those front-row concert tickets that “totally fell off a truck.
Beat the System: Ignoring the official transfer rules because they’re just suggestions.
Looks like a lot of AI in that reply. However, most people are looking for a legitimate substitution entry not an illicit ticket.