A customer shops online. Cyber fraudsters often use different social media platforms to lay traps for the unsuspecting public. PHOTO/FILE
As Ugandans anticipate the joy of the Christmas season, cybercriminals are prepared to strike, taking advantage of the festive spirit, to craft and launch various customer fraud tricks (scams) that can damage your holiday celebrations.
According to the PwC's Global Economic Crimes Survey 2024, customer fraud is Uganda's most experienced form of economic crime, with an incident rate of 40 percent, closely followed by cybercrime at 37 percent.
Technology adoption has likely contributed to a shift in the landscape of economic crimes, with a noticeable rise in cybercrime incidents.
Meanwhile, traditional forms of economic crime, such as asset misappropriation and procurement fraud, have declined over time.
The annual police crime report 2023 further indicated a loss of Shs1.8 trillion in economic crimes, of which only Shs80 billion was recovered. As you go on with online shopping, prioritise your safety, and do your due diligence.
Social media scams
Cyber fraudsters often use different social media platforms to lay traps for the unsuspecting public. This can be through fake giveaways, counterfeit products, or phishing links disguised as holiday deals.
A case in point is the recent phishing link/website (https://[email protected]/black-friday-sale) exposed by Jumia that is targeting online shoppers with discounted deals and gifts under the guise of Jumia.
Former Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga in his 2023 public warning by police, said, “Always verify the website utilised to purchase and sell items, and always be cautious when clicking on links or entering personal information on social media.”
Phishing emails, SMS, and calls
In the wake of the festivities and Black Friday, many individuals shop online for presents and personal items, making it an optimal time for cybercriminals to convey phishing messages camouflaged as promotional messages from well-known retailers or companies.
These messages often contain malicious links, attachments, or questions designed to steal your personal information or corrupt your software.
To avoid these phishing scams:
● Check the sender’s email address for legitimacy, as phishing emails often bear slight variations or misspellings of genuine addresses to deceive unsuspecting recipients.
● Avoid clicking on suspicious links.
● Be wary of unexpected email attachments, SMS, or calls, especially if they claim to be promotional messages or contain urgent messages. Confirm with the sender before opening any attachments.
● Implement multi-factor authentication wherever possible. This adds an extra layer of security that makes it more challenging for cybercriminals to access your accounts.
Mobile money fraud
Mobile money fraud is a growing concern in Uganda, as scammers take advantage of the weaknesses in mobile financial services to defraud people of their hard-earned money.
"Scammers use various tactics, such as deceptive transaction messages and calls, SIM swapping, and sometimes set up false mobile money agent stalls or shops. They may send deceptive SMS or calls, posing as mobile network operators or financial institutions, to trick victims into revealing PINs or authorising transactions," explained a mobile money agent in Mutungo who wishes to remain anonymous.
According to the GSMA "Mobile Money Fraud and Typologies and Mitigation Strategies" report 2024, identity fraud against mobile money users ranks as the most recorded type of fraud at 90.38 percent, followed by social engineering at 88.46 percent, insider fraud at 86.54 percent, and SIM swap at 78.9 percent.
As such, to protect yourself, verify transactions before confirming any transactions, regularly check your mobile money account balances, and be cautious of unsolicited calls or messages requesting sensitive information.
Keep your PIN confidential and report suspicious activities to your mobile network operator, financial institution, or police.
Non-delivery and deceptive delivery notifications
With the increase in online shopping, many people are expecting package deliveries. However, this is a notorious hotbed for fraudsters.
Michael Mulamba, a former avid online shopper, highlighted that scammers capitalise on this opportunity to request payment before delivery and later do not deliver. In a few cases, they deliver counterfeit products.
"In some instances, they send out fake delivery notifications via email or text message, often containing links to phishing sites or malware," he added.
Martha Nantongo, a victim of a delivery scam, shared, "Usually, scams request information such as your mobile number and email address and then ask you to pay before delivery. During last year's discount sales season, I lost Shs350,000 in my attempt to benefit from the discount on an air fryer. At first, I was hesitant. But the site looked like the legitimate site I usually shop from, so I thought they had a policy change. My advice is to always check the sender’s details and contact the delivery company directly if you are unsure."
Donation scams
Many legitimate charities ramp up their fundraising efforts during this season. However, scammers frequently exploit this opportunity to set up charity websites or masquerade as well-known charity organisations conveying phishing emails requesting donations. Always verify a charity before donating and avoid giving out personal information to unverified sources.
Other scams employed by cybercriminals include e-cards laden with malware to steal personal information, the sale of stolen or fake gift cards, fraud targeting persons interested in concerts and shows, dating site scams, and money transfers from abroad and internally, to mention but a few.
To ensure your cyber and financial security, be wary of opening e-cards from unknown senders. Always buy your gift cards and tickets from reputable sources.
Be wary of deals that are too good to be true. Keep your devices and antivirus software up-to-date.
Exercise caution when dealing with people abroad.
Tis the season to stay cyber-smart
The best way to protect yourself from Christmas scams is to stay informed. By taking these precautions, you can ensure that your holiday season is filled with joy and free from cyber threats.
If you have fallen victim to any scam, report it to the police or your financial institution/network.
Happy holidays and stay safe online!
