Do not fall victim to online fraudsters

Criminals will look for opportunities to pounce and this includes fraudsters.
According to Manie van Schalkwyk, CEO of the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) it is important that South Africans remember that fraudsters are very active.

“While there are plenty of special offers in the market, there are a lot of fraudsters who wish to take advantage of our desire to find the perfect deal,” Van Schalkwyk says.
He said particular attention needs to be given to online payments, as these can become low-hanging fruit to fraudsters.
Online transactions are likely to increase this year, as many consumers will want to avoid the in-store rush.

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Empty promises
A growing trend that South Africans need to be wary of is the practice whereby a company offers products and services at a discount, accepting payment and not delivering the actual product or service.
The SAFPS recently received notification from the Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman (CGSO) that they have been receiving several complaints against suppliers who accept payments from consumers with no intention to deliver the goods or services.
One of these suppliers offers fireplaces and chimneys at a discounted rate but not supplying the products purchased.
Once the consumer indicates that they are interested in the product, they are asked to pay a deposit on the promise that installation will take place at a later date.
The company does not deliver on their promise and offers several excuses on why the consumer is facing a delay.
The installation date is pushed out further and further with the deposit never being returned to the consumer.
In 2022, between April 1 and September 28, the Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman (CGSO) received sixteen complaints regarding the same company.
The ombudsman pointed out that the offending company has resolved two of the complaints by refunding the complainants and has resolved one complaint by delivering and installing the purchased fireplace.

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Look out for red flags
“This is a classic case of fraud and there are many ways that consumers can protect themselves against this,” says Van Schalkwyk.
Check the company’s website for a legitimate telephone number and address.
If there is no way to contact this company outside of its website, it may be a red flag that the business is not legitimate.
Emails and domain names are easy to obtain, therefore, having an email address is not as trustworthy as traditional contact information.
It is always a good idea to call the number provided on their website to speak to an agent in person.
Browse the internet for discrepancies and indicators of professionalism.
The internet has provided consumers with a voice to highlight their frustrations with a company and indicate that there may be problems when dealing with a specific company.
Always look at a request for a deposit with some degree of suspicion. It is a common practice in some companies. However, you should only pay a deposit once you are confident that you are dealing with a legitimate company.
“Sometimes, consumers still become victims of fraud even after they have carried out extensive research on the company.
“In the fireplace and chimney cases, there was no indication to consumers that they were dealing with a fraudulent company. In these instances, it is always advisable to deal with companies that are registered as participants with the CGSO as there is a guarantee that they are legitimate and will address any complaints themselves.
“Consumers can also escalate any complaints to the CGSO if there is no quick resolution. All qualifying suppliers of goods and services in South Africa are required to register with the CGSO and comply with the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Accepting payment without delivering the goods or the services is a contravention of the CPA,” says Van Schalkwyk.
Consumers can check on the CGSO website for registered participants or lodge complaints on www.cgso.org.za

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Protective registration
Besides this example, consumers are also subjected to financial fraud, where their documents are used to open cell phone accounts or apply for credit.
In this regard, one of the most important services and the core of SAFPS’ service offering, is protective registration.
Protective registration is a free service protecting individuals against future financial fraud.
Consumers apply for this service and the SAFPS alerts its members to take additional care when dealing with that individual’s details.
“If a member of the public wants to become proactive in the fight against fraud, the SAFPS is there to serve them.“
Go to the website www.safps.org.za, click on the fraud prevention tab and protect yourself against identity theft with protective registration.
“For best results, use your smartphone to go to our website. Once you have uploaded key pieces of information, you will add another layer of protection against potential identity fraud,” says Van Schalkwyk.

Victim fraud registration
Through victim fraud registration, the SAFPS will assist applicants in preventing fraud that is a result of identity theft and impersonation.
This will protect applicants from associated financial implications. The SAFPS will issue applicants with a victim of impersonation letter which they can share with future credit providers to assist in any verification processes.
Click on protect your identity on the SAFPS website at www.safps.org.za
It is also recommended to use your smartphone in this process and that the applicant has a copy of their identity document with them.
Alternatively, applicants can follow the manual process explained on the website.