Public Advisory: Fraudsters Using Online…

ESCCOM Commissions National Survey on The State of The ICT Sector in Eswatini Understanding Type Approval in Eswatini Cybercriminals are using these platforms to contact unsuspecting individuals while impersonating trusted organizations such as banks, law enforcement agencies, security departments, official institutions and high profile individuals. Their goal is to deceive victims into revealing sensitive banking information or transferring money under false pretences. In many reported cases, victims receive an unexpected voice or video call from an unknown individual claiming to be a bank official, fraud investigator, security officer, or police officer. The scammer may inform the victim that: These fraudsters sound professional and knowledgeable, and they manipulate victims by creating a sense of urgency and legitimacy, pressuring them to act immediately as means to secure their funds. Some victims have reported that the scammers even arrange conference calls involving additional individuals who falsely present themselves as police officers, supervisors, investigators, or members of a bank’s security team. The purpose of these tactics is to pressure the victim into acting quickly without verifying the information. Information Commonly Requested by Scammers Victims may be asked to provide: Once the fraudsters obtain this information, they can conduct unauthorized transactions, transfer funds, or gain access to banking services. Important Facts to Remember Banks, police services, regulators, and legitimate organizations will never ask customers to disclose sensitive banking information over a phone call, video call, WhatsApp call, Google Meet session, email, or any social media platform. No legitimate institution should ask you to reveal: Anyone requesting this information should be treated as a potential fraudster. How to Protect Yourself To reduce the risk of becoming a victim: What To Do If You Have Shared Information If you have already provided banking information or suspect that your account may have been compromised: Let us all work together to Secure Eswatini and Be Safe Online.