Remain vigilant and avoid Covid-19 scams

WITH the Covid-19 pandemic causing widespread panic, criminals are reportedly using this to their advantage to make a quick buck. In light of this new trend, residents are urged to remain vigilant about fraud.

Phishing attacks are on the rise, with fraudsters posing as legitimate organisations such as the World Health Organisation to get you to click on links or open attachments that will install malware and steal information.

ALSO READ: Durban private investigator warns small businesses of spike in Covid-19 scams

Social engineering and attempts to get you to disclose personal information that will facilitate financial fraud are rampant and even include creative attempts at COVID19 tax refund schemes.

“At FICO, we are continuing to work hard every day to protect people from fraud. We wanted to share some guidance on how to prevent the bad guys from profiting off the panic. Some of these tips will be familiar, but they’re worth a reminder. You also may want to share them with relatives and seniors,” said managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Michelle Beetar.

– Do not click links or open attachments from people you don’t know. If a company is sending you an email to advise you of their coronavirus response, Google the company’s name to navigate to their website where the information will likely be cross posted.

– Talk to your loved ones and assure them you are safe, and what your plan would be to reach out if you need help. Grandparents and others can be tricked into sending payments and draining their savings – don’t let them be.

– Bear in mind fraudsters may be going door to door for scams such as disinfecting homes to gain access to a home, double check their legitimacy during this time of social distancing.

– Be aware of pandemic related scams such as buying face masks, or fake funding sites purporting to be collecting money for people that have lost their jobs.

– If you are buying goods online, be careful of the seller’s legitimacy. When in doubt, Google the seller’s name plus the word ‘scam’. If it’s a phone call, Google the number plus the words ‘who called’.

– Think about how you want to pay for orders and use a trusted mechanism – such as a credit cards and PayPal – which generally provides more protection. Be wary about making payments using wire transfers or bank transfers. If you are a victim of fraud, it will be difficult or impossible to get your money back.

– When trying to contact a company, or your bank, only use contact information you have found from a reliable source. For example, if you get an email that looks like it is from your bank don’t check by calling the number in that email, but rather look on the bank’s website or on your bank card.

Beetar added that scammers rely on creating a false sense of urgency, and the current situation is making us all more vulnerable.

“Be cautious about responding to any offer where there is undue time related pressure. Stay safe and let’s flatten the Covid-19 and fraud curves.” she said.

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting

Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).

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