Don’t be scammed
Scams are one of the ways in which criminals rob people, especially during December or January.
It is therefore crucial to keep yourself safe so you are not targeted by criminals.
• Be aware of common scams including perpetrators pretending to be from a well-known company saying you have won a competition, so you can click the follow link or respond by saying yes or no to something.
• Look out for people who may request for you to share your personal information or ask you to verify your personal details over the phone.
• Be cautious of emails, SMSes or instant messages that appear to come from a banks or other legitimate businesses asking you to click on a link or download an attachment. Though this may seem legitimate, the link might direct you to a fraudulent website, which looks genuine.
Upon opening it, you may be asked to provide details which may be used to access your accounts, while the attachments may also contain a virus to give thieves ways of accessing your computer and all your personal information.
• Don’t get too excited about any deals or announcements that you have won a prize, without making sure that you contact the company first to check if this information is true.
• If a company or bank sends you an email or SMS about them changing their banking details, go to them personally or call to check if this instruction is true before losing your money.
• When schools open, parents and learners should make sure that they thoroughly check out the schools that they will be applying to, as some could be fly-by-night schools.
