Beware of online scammers this tax season
Follow these tips to ensure you don't fall victim to scammers.
ONLINE scammers are once again at it and this time they are focused on tax payers. With tax season having opened on 1 July and this year and ending one month earlier, online scammers saw an opportunity to con unsuspecting taxpayers.
Also read: City warns of scam targeting pensioners
Cybersecurity research firm, ESET Southern Africa, has issued a statement giving taxpayers a few tips on how to spot scammers.
1. Sweep your computer before you access or transmit financial data
Before you work on your taxes, work with financial data on your computer, or visit banking or financial sites, update your antivirus/antimalware software and run a scan.
2. Use only a secure browser when banking or shopping online
Every bit of personal information is potentially useful to a crook. For extra safety, look for security software that includes banking and payment protection, which automatically opens a new, secure browser for you when you’re making financial transactions online.
3. Don’t give out any personal financial information unless you have logged into the banking or SARS site directly
If you get an email from a bank, shopping site, or any other source that asks you to verify your password or enter personal information, don’t click on the link. Type the site’s URL into the address bar yourself and log in or use the phone to contact them.
4. Log out of SARS e-filing or banking sessions as soon as you’ve finished
Always close your browser completely after you’ve visited any site that requires a log-in or deals with your personal information.
5. Don’t file returns or access financial sites from a coffee bar, airport lounge, hotel or other Wi-Fi hot spot.
A public Wi-Fi hot spot is wide open for thieves who can steal information or plant malware on your computer. Never use them when you’re sending or working with your financial or other personal information.
6. Consider encrypting the information that you store or send
If you store tax or financial records on your computer, store them in a folder with an innocuous or misleading name, and use a file encryption program to provide additional security in case your machine becomes compromised.
7. Protect mobile devices, too
If you haven’t done so already, lock your phone with a password, and invest in security software that protects it from malware and safeguards your information in case of loss or theft.
8.Update your security programs, web browsers, and third-party programs regularly
Make sure your operating system and all web browsers you use are up to date, and pay special attention to browser plug-ins.
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