By Waseem Rhoda, 27 January 2021
Data fraud and theft have been ranked by the World Economic Forum as the number four global risk over a ten-year horizon with cyberattacks taking a number five.
Waseem Rhoda, Information Security Officer at Sanlam, says consumers need to be aware of the latest cybercrime trends to safeguard themselves from becoming a victim. “Phishing, impersonation scams, fraudulent sites, malware attacks and social engineering are among the most common tools used by scammers,” notes Rhoda.
Watch out for unsolicited emails, texts, or calls offering a free item or letting you know there is a problem with a delivery, he explains. Clicking on a link to verify or provide information could expose you to identity theft or allow malware onto your computer or mobile device. Rhoda suggests that if you are in doubt, always check the email sender details and hover over the links to ensure they lead to trusted websites.
Rhoda shares seven measures consumers can implement to avoid falling victim to cybercrime:
South Africans are cautioned to stay up to date regarding cybercrime trends. “You can stay one step ahead of the hacker by educating yourself about the latest scams and hacking trends so that they are easier to spot should you experience it,” concludes Rhoda.