BY SETHABILE MYENI
MBABANE – The Royal Eswatini Police Services Fraud department has Awarned emaSwati on a new strategy used by fraudsters to steal money from accounts. Nicola Jele, an officer from the fraud department, said the fraudsters use the services that are provided by the bank.
He explained that the most used tactic is the service called loan portals that the banks would
post on their social media platforms. Loan portals allow clients to apply for loans in the comforts of their homes or wherever they are.
“The fraudsters would create a similar page as the bank and have the same link that people use to apply for loans. When one clicks on the link they ask questions similar to the ones that the the actual bank asks and they will also ask for more including, login credentials, OPT, card numbers and before you know it they will send a text saying ‘Your loan application was declined,” said Jele.
He explained that after that text, they already had all the information that they would use to withdraw money from that particular account. “We would like to warn emaSwati that the bank cannot ask for personal information probably because they already have it or it is supposed to be known only to the account holder, once they ask for personal information drop that conversation,” he said. Jele disclosed that there were 23 reported cases of fraud from November 2023 to date, and
a total amount of E115 000 has been stolen.
