Several companies and organisations have warned residents to be vigilant at all times as criminals are seemingly using the Coronavirus pandemic as a method to defraud and rob people.
Netcare, Fidelity ADT and South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) have issued statements in which people are warned about the modus operandi by criminals.
Netcare has been made aware of criminals who are going to homes in various areas across the country, claiming to be from Netcare or Netcare 911, indicating that they are assisting the Department of Health with door-to-door screening for Covid-19.
“Please note that staff members from the Netcare Group, including Netcare hospitals, Netcare 911 or Medicross medical and dental centres are not doing door-to-door Covid-19 screening. Should someone be claiming to be a representative from Netcare, Netcare 911 or Medicross arrive ar your home or business premises claiming to do screening for the novel Coronavirus, do not allow them onto your property or inside your business premises for your own safety and please alert the Police immediately,” it was said.
In a press release by Charnel Hattingh, National Marketing and Communications Manager at Fidelity ADT, she indicated that the company has received a couple of reports from clients about impersonators trying their luck to get into homes.
“It is important to never let anyone in your property if their identity or reason for the visit has not been verified. Impersonators can pretend to be electricians, telephone repairmen, garden service employees or even security or Police officers. We have been advised that there is no door-to-door testing so please do not let anyone in claiming to be from Government or any medical services,” Hattingh said.
Meanwhile, South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) also issued a statement warning bank clients that cybercriminals are exploiting the spread of Coronavirus for their own gain. Coronavirus scams exploit people’s concerns for their health and safety and pressure them into being tricked using social engineering. Social engineering is manipulative and exploits human vulnerability because criminals know that the weakest link in the information security chain is the human being.
The new scams include spoofed emails offering products such as masks or fake offerings of vaccines, leading to phishing websites. These emails come from seemingly realistic and reputable companies which manipulate people into clicking on links. Some of these websites prompt the user for personal information which ends up in the hands of cybercriminals, according to Sabric acting Chief Executive Officer Susan Potgieter.
Cybercriminals are also using SMS phishing, more commonly known as SMishing, to trick victims into clicking on a link disguised as information on a Coronavirus breakout in their area to steal their credentials. Some of these texts claim to provide free masks or pretend to be companies that have experienced delays in deliveries due to the Coronavirus.
“Although some spoofed e-mails can be difficult to identify, we urge bank clients to think twice before clicking on any link, even if an email looks legitimate. Any suspicious emails should not be opened and are best deleted,” Potgieter said.
Provincial Police Communications Head Motlafela Mojapelo could not confirm if any similar cases were reported in Limpopo at the time of going to print.
Story: RC Myburgh
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