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Tom Muleya Fraud Insight
You have had it said that “complacency is the criminal’s best weapon”. The festive season comprising of Christmas and New Year celebrations is characterised by a hive of activities and at the same exhibition of wild behaviour by certain people.
The Christmas wave or atmosphere affects people differently.
On the negative side, some people lose “Ubuntu” resulting in them being victims of fraud.
Complacency can be defined as a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some certain potential danger.
This means that while masses will be celebrating in rather pleasant atmosphere offering a sense of security, there is still some potential danger lurking.
It is therefore important that one guard against some actions that may bring financial lose during the festive season.
Fraudsters and Cybercriminals will not stop attacks because it is the festive season but they will maximise due to laxity, wantonness, irresponsibility, looseness, and impropriety of festive season patrons.
Due to the “festive crazy”, many people will lose or will have their personal information stolen by fraudsters and cyber criminals in so many ways that result in many cases of card cloning and incidences of mobile phone and Whatsapp hacking.
During the course of the year, Fraud Insight covered a number of areas on fraud and cybercrime, and thus recalling the tips and preventive measures that were suggested will go a long way in minimising chances of being a victim.
The following general measures will help someone during the Festive Season;
- Never engage in a behaviour that will render you vulnerable, favouring fraudsters to financially prey on you during the festive season.
- Avoid wantonly clicking on your mobile phone, “Think before you click”.
- Do not allow anyone else to use your Card, Pin, Password or other unique means of personal identification. The risk will even be higher when such sensitive information is disclosed to strangers during the festive season.
- Always take reasonable steps to keep your card, Pin and Password a secret, safe and secure all times during the festive season.
- As soon as you suspect or discover any unauthorized activity on your account, quickly advise or report to your respective bank so that the Bank can take necessary measures to prevent or limit fraud or theft on your account.
- If you lose your personal details through acts of theft, robbery, or accidental loss, quickly report to the Police, and advise your Mobile Service provider, and Bank.
- Do not quickly respond to Whatsapp messages that purport to have been sent by a well-known member of a Whatsapp Group offering US$ at a lower RTGS$ rate, your member might have been hacked.
- Avoid following links and login in to unfamiliar websites; you may end up being hacked.
- Be your own Police officer. This will help you make early detection of acts of crime when about to be perpetrated against you. Take responsibility of yourself and avoid being a victim of fraud this festive season. Fraud Insight wishes all its avid readers a “Merry Christmas and a Happy & Prosperous Year 2022”.
For your feedback, WhatsApp line: 0772 764 043, or e-mail:[email protected]. Tom Muleya is a Detective Assistant Inspector working under the Criminal Investigations Department, Harare
Online Reporter