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Fraudsters have not taken a sabbatical during the Covid-19 pandemic.
30 July 2021 06:53
Online banking and investment fraud have increased during the pandemic.
Last week, my colleague was phoned by her bankâs security team and told that her account had just paid three sums of R10 000 each to a bank in Thailand. The caller, who identified himself by name, asked her to log on to her account to check if the money had actually been transferred out.
While she was hesitating the caller as if to reassure her, confirmed the bank account number, her street address and the name of the account holder. All these details, as quoted to her, were correct. The only detail that was âoffâ, (besides the fact that he was calling at all) was the fact that he did not seem to know that the account in question was her husbandâs and not hers. When she offered to call the purported bank official back, he cut the call.
WENDY KNOWLER | Be a fraud, very a fraud: beware of credit impersonators out there To avoid a nightmare like one reader suffered, it’s a good idea to register with the SA Fraud Prevention Service 23 May 2021 - 17:48
As a proof of identity, a green book or card does a terrible job of protecting us from impersonation fraud.
Incidence of this crime quadrupled in 2020, so more South Africans than ever have had an impersonator go on a merry spending spree in their name, leaving them with massive debt and nothing to show for it, except for a financially debilitating “blacklisting” on their credit profile.
Squeaky bed woes, scam customer care agents on WhatsApp, fishy sales Consumer journalist Wendy Knowler’s ‘watch-outs of the week’ 16 April 2021 - 14:52 Unauthorised use of a company s brand name, fraudsters on WhatsApp and the risk of buying from informal traders: Tips to shop with care. File image Image: 123RF / BELCHONOCK
In this weekly segment of bite-sized chunks of useful information, consumer journalist Wendy Knowler summarises news you can use:
Beware the ‘let’s do this on WhatsApp’ line
What do you do if you have a gripe with a company you do business with, and you’re not getting any joy from their call centre or e-mail responders?
The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service says it succeeded in stopping fraud to the value of R4,4 billion, but many consumers still found their details were used to apply for credit.
The Protection of Personal Information Act is finally here and this is what you need to know 23 June 2020 - 14:53 The Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act will finally be in force in full from July 1, having been passed by parliament seven years ago. Image: 123RF / Rasstock
The Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act will finally be in force in full from July 1, having been passed by parliament seven years ago.
Still, businesses will have until the end of June next year to comply with it.
The act applies to all local and foreign organisations collecting, using or handling consumers’ personal information, including name, identity number, age and addresses.