Technology has transformed in leaps and bounds allowing for financial transactions to be swifter and less painful. However, this has unfortunately been seen as a quick and easy opportunity for scam artists to strike. The silly season of the holidays may be over but that does not mean we should let our guard down. Nor should we be fearful of technology, just extra cautious. With more than 59 million registered cellular phone users on South African networks, obviously it makes us all soft targets for these unscrupulous artists.
Do not click on any links for so called upgrades or reply to opt to stop from receiving sms’s especially if you are not sure of the source.  This automatically enables ‘companies’ to debit your airtime and reversing this could be a nightmare when dealing with call centre consultants, not to mention your airtime reducing drastically or your cellphone bill climbing considerably. Sometimes these ‘companies’ debit a small amount that could go unnoticed so it is always wise to scrutinise your itemised billing. Be very wary of emails and sms’ that say you have won this lotto or that competition etc. If you didn’t enter a competition how do you expect to win? Please don’t let greed turn you into a fool!
They often con gullible people who are desperate for money, to pay an X amount to ‘claim’ their prize.  If it’s too good to be true good to be true, it is. When it comes to internet shopping, use verified familiar sites, the too good to be true bargains are not necessarily safe.  Look for the ‘lock’ icon and ensure your SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption is installed. The SSL site will begin with HTTPS:// and not just https://
Telemarketing also has its fair share of con artists. Never share your personal and bank details with untrusted sources. Even with the legit ones we often say yes to them because we are people pleasers and it’s easy to twist our arms.  Years may go by when our bank accounts are debited yet we are not even sure what the product is for. Analyse your bank statements and make certain you know exactly what your debit orders are paying for. When it comes to ATMs, make sure the area you are withdrawing from is well lit and secure.
Be wary of suspicious characters. If your card sinks, call your bank and cancel it immediately.  If you receive a SMS that funds were withdrawn from your account yet you are completely unsure of the transaction cancel your bank card immediately and report it to the police as it could be that your card has been cloned. When paying for petrol or food make sure the machine is brought to you and never let anyone take your card away even for a moment.  Do not share your PIN with anyone and remember it is your right to cover the keypad when inserting your PIN, be it at the bank, supermarket or ATM. You never know who is watching so rather be safe than sorry.