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Now more than ever, criminals are finding new and original ways to scam people – online, on the phone and in person.
These criminals are experts at getting you to trust them with your personal information. Their goal is to steal something from you – it could be anything from your money and belongings to your identity. We look at some of these scams and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim.
Car recall scam
In November 2020, The Insurance Crime Bureau (ICB) issued a vehicle recall scam alert following a significant increase in the number of cases.
How it works:
The scammers contact unsuspecting car owners and pretend to be officials representing a car manufacturer. They then try and convince you that your car is part of a batch being recalled because of a serious malfunction and promise to repair or replace the car. After the call, the scammers will often send a follow-up email, asking to collect your car. If you agree, they arrive with a tow-truck and take it away. Many car owners then call the dealership for an update a few days later, only to discover that they have been scammed and their car has been stolen.
Tips to protect yourself:
Cyber scams
Did you know that since the start of lockdown, there has been a huge increase in cybercrime in South Africa? According to cyber security provider, Kaspersky, devices affected by cyberattacks increased from under 30 000 daily to 310 000 on 18 March 2020. That’s why you can never be too careful when it comes to protecting yourself online.
There are many cyber threats to look out for, here are some of the most common ones:
To help protect you against cybercrime, Budget offers these helpful cyber safety DOs and DON’Ts.
Cyber safety DOs:
Cyber safety DON’Ts:
EFT Payment Scam
Another important scam to be aware of is one that involves instant EFT payments. While EFTs are quick, easy and convenient, they’re not always safe. Find out why: https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/online-shoppers-warned-against-making-instant-eft-payments/.