26 January 2022
# A recent increase in telephone scams has left thousands of unsuspecting consumers broke and devastated. The CEO of the South African Fraud Prevention Service, Manie van Schalkwyk, says scammers use stolen data to impersonate bank staff:
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He says they use their knowledge of personal information to win their target’s trust:
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SAFPS is a non-profit organisation that uses a fraud database to help banks detect and prevent fraudulent activity. The organisation provides free services to consumers to also protect individuals against fraud. Van Schalkwyk says you can apply for Protective Registration on their website www.safps.org.za:
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He says Fraud Victim Registration can reduce the risks after you’ve become a victim:
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Van Schalkwyk says there are lots of other simple ways to protect yourself:
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He says informing the bank when your smartphone is stolen is another crucial step.