MBOMBELA – Digitally executed crimes have increased drastically since the dawn of social media.
According to provincial police spokesman, Sgt Gerald Sedibe, law enforcement are dealing with various cases of online crimes. Falling victim to such crimes can, according to Sedibe, be avoided by internet users acting responsibly and with caution.
Where does online vigilance start?
Online vigilance starts with a proper understanding of the status of your online information. Social-media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, have elaborate user agreements which include privacy clauses.
These clauses state that usernames and profile photos are publicly available. The platforms do not take responsibility for what third parties do with this information. Details that users publish only to a selected audience may be redistributed by members of that audience. Again, the platforms cannot be held responsible for what happens to such information.
Who is responsible for your online safety?
You are.
Users bear the responsibility of regulating what they place onto these platforms.
Expert advice on key points
Staysafeonline.org is an initiative of the National Cyber Security Alliance. The website stresses the importance of familiarising oneself with social-network security settings and provides guidance in this respect.
- Personal Information: Although personal information such as your date of birth, workplace and home address can be added to your social media profiles, users are advised to be careful in doing so. “Be cautious about how much personal information you provide on social networking sites. The more information you post, the easier it may be for a hacker or someone else to use that information to steal your identity, access your data, or commit other crimes such as stalking,” the website warns.
- Friend requests should be considered carefully. The website advises users to know and manage their friends. This can be done by utilising different groups or creating multiple pages. “If you’re trying to create a public persona as a blogger or expert, create an open profile or a ‘fan’ page that encourages broad participation and limits personal information. Use your personal profile to keep your real friends (the ones you know trust) more synced up with your daily life,” it suggests.
- The location feature: Another feature of these platforms is called the “location” feature. It enables users to “sign in” to share their location. Readers are advised to use this feature with caution, as it allows potential criminals to track their moves.
- Online fraud: Cyber stalkers and fraudsters also use the information placed online to cheat or defraud individuals.
Armed with information about their victim, they create the impression that they have access to the individual’s details and can, therefore, be trusted. Such fraudsters may pose as telephone consultants from banks or businesses and lure victims into divulging personal details such as their banking details telephonically. In reaction to this phenomenon, Absa advised customers to “never provide personal banking information to anyone, whether in person, via email or over the phone.”
- Human trafficking: According to provincial Hawks head, Maj Gen Ntombizodwa Mokoena, human traffickers often use social media to recruit victims. These people are promised better options and study opportunities. Once lured, they are exploited. “Victims get promised green pastures and studies, only to find themselves kept in brothels where they are exposed to, for example, drugs, sexual and physical abuse,” he said.
Mokoena urges residents to be cautious when considering job advertisements on social media. This includes taking steps to verify the veracity of the advertisements. Do this by searching for more on the employer using Google. Obtain a telephone number and use applications such as Truecaller to check the identity of the person offering the job. Also, do not attend a job interview without telling a friend or family member where you are going.
