BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – As Mobile wallets become increasingly crucial to the lives of emaSwati, The Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) has warned emaSwati about seven common mobile wallet scams that are prevalent in Eswatini.
Mobile wallets are part of the financial technology (FinTech) family.
The common scams are carried in the latest newsletter known as the COMMSREG, issued by ESCCOM in December last year.
ESCCOM Consumer Affairs and Communications Manager Fisiwe Vilane stated that as the mobile phone was fast becoming more than just a device for making and receiving calls, the risk of being hacked or defrauded was also becoming a high possibility.
When she highlighted and unpacked the newsletter she was speaking during an interview with Eswatini TV Kusile Breakfast Show.
She mentioned that there had been an increase in reports of fraud within the electronic communications space.
Vilane said the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) was constantly receiving reports from both Eswatini Mobile and MTN Eswatini customers who had fallen victim to the scams. Vilane said the fraudsters solicited information, airtime or mobile money from unsuspecting emaSwati by using different modes of operation.
She said working with REPS and the two operators, the commission ran an educational campaign to educate consumers on the prevalent scams and as a way of reminding them on how they could generally be more vigilant and keep safe from suffering losses.
“In all the incidents reported, the common thread is that the victims are requested to share confidential details such as user IDs, passwords, one-time PINs as well as ID particulars,” said Vilane. She highlighted that the mobile wallet scams that are prevalent in Eswatini include:
1. Social contest scams: Scammers use social media to launch fake competitions through which they then trick victims into giving up personal financial information or sending a mobile money payment. The fraudsters contact individuals and claim that they have won a competition, then they further request a fee to facilitate the release of the prize. Vilane also warns of online shopping scams. Before making purchases from any online store, shoppers are warned to do research into the business and check reviews from previous customers. Specials clear before releasing items to a customer.
5. Fraudulent customer service and data theft scams: An unsuspecting target may receive a call, text, or email from an individual claiming to be from the customer service or fraud prevention department of their mobile operator or bank. They may claim that there is an error with a transaction or suspected fraud on the account, and request for details like PINs to verify and quote your account details such as the balance of your mobile wallet account, following which they may request you to reveal other personal information that they use to deplete your account. ESCCOM warns people never to share personal account details or PINs with anyone via mail, messaging, or in a phone call.
6. Misrepresentation/identity theft: A family member or stranger may request an individual to register a SIM card on their behalf. This person may appear desperate with no identification documents for registration and request to use the individual’s personal documents to fulfil all the KYC requirements for the purchase of the SIM card. They may offer the individual money as compensation and then use this number to commit fraud.
The scammer may also encourage a group of customers to register their numbers and offer them a lucrative amount e.g. E5 000. These preregistered SIM cards are then used to commit fraud.
7. Employment scams: With more job seekers getting online to look for opportunities, they have become an easy target for employment scammers. In these scams, fraudsters might try to trick victims into paying for an employment opportunity that ‘guarantees’ a job or an opportunity for the victim to make money. Vilane added that in most cases, these offers were not legitimate. She encouraged emaSwati to check the alleged employer’s website and social media pages or call their human resources department to determine whether they really have vacancies, as no reputable company would make one pay for a job.
“EmaSwati continue to lose their hard-earned funds in these ways, and the commission is committed to continuously educate users of communication services to be wary at all times,” she said.
