6 Key Tips for Avoiding Online Scams

Raising awareness about the critical importance of online safety for women has never been more pressing. Documentaries like The Tinder Swindler and TV shows such as Catfish highlight how digital crimes disproportionately affect women.

It’s important to be aware of the tactics employed by cybercriminals, who craft enticing emails, messages, or social media posts that appear to be from a secret admirer or a long-lost love interest.

Cybercrime costs the country an estimated R2.2 billion annually, with women especially vulnerable to online scams, harassment, and digital exploitation. A recent Rutgers report also reveals connections between online violence and the offline world. It highlights a lack of understanding about the range, prevalence, and legal status of TFGBV in the seven African countries sampled, including South Africa.

This is worsened by low digital literacy, particularly among women and girls, and limited educational campaigns on digital hygiene. The report highlighted the gender gap in digital access, with only 25% of people in the least developed countries using mobile internet, and most of the 3.4 billion without access being women.

“The world is more connected than ever, thanks to social media and dating apps that enable people to stay in touch with old friends worldwide and forge new relationships online. With the rise of online scams, it’s essential for women to educate themselves and others about the latest phishing tactics and to spread this knowledge. Awareness is a powerful tool in combating cybercrime, helping protect both their hearts and personal data from falling victim to these scams,” says Taylor Kwong, Head of Marketing at Vuma.

To help safeguard against online scams and protect your personal information online and on social media pages, keep the following tips from Kwong in mind:

• Create complex, long and unique passwords, set up a two-authentication factor (2AF), and never share your password with anyone.
• Be cautious with camera and microphone permissions on new apps and websites, as granting unnecessary access can allow malicious code to secretly record audio or video.
• Only open links from trusted sources and do not follow any prompts to install applications shared over email chat boxes.
• Block suspicious accounts on social media and WhatsApp contacts, as perpetrators often use fake profiles to target victims.
• Limit sharing personal information like your location, address and contact details. A
• Overall, avoid sharing sensitive information, like personal sensitive documents (ID, passport, driver’s license or ban card details)

“Access to the internet offers many benefits, but it can also come with hidden dangers, especially for women who may not feel as comfortable online. We believe that everyone deserves to enjoy the advantages of a connected world safely,” says Kwong.