When working or browsing online, the chance of falling victim to scams and fraud continues to escalate.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is responsible for the policing and investigation of cybercrimes, and the following safety hints can be observed and practiced to ensure that you do not fall victim to online scams and fraud.
The following red flags can be scrutinised, suggests Col Cherelle Ehlers of the police’s Northern Cape Media Centre:
- jobs offering quick and easy money;
- jobs appearing to be from a reputable, familiar company yet with no job poster or generic email or website domain. Always validate by referring to the company’s website to verify the advertised vacancies;
- jobs that say “no catch” or “not a scam”;
- jobs that offer you a position without an interview, a background check or references;
- if applicants are asked for money for “a processing fee” to secure an interview;
- the advertisement includes many spelling and grammatical errors; and
- the employer contacts you by phone, but there is no way to call them back as there is no number available.
If an advertisement or offer seems too good to be true, if you feel uncomfortable with some of the information requested, or something just does not seem right, proceed with extreme caution, warns Ehlers.
