How Do I Detect A Scam?

Mismatched email/website domains or spelling errors

• Always be vigilant for very subtle misspellings of an email or website domain.
• Watch out for small differences in e-mail addresses – for example, the “o” had been replaced by “0”.​
• For websites, the URL should begin with "https://" and there should also be a padlock icon near the address bar.

Urgent call-to-action

• Be wary of any call, SMS or e-mail that carry an urgent call-to-action, e.g. stating that this is your last warning, you have pending fines, etc.
• These scams are designed to generate a false sense of urgency so that you will be compelled to act.

Automated calls

• An automated robocall is almost certainly a scam.
• Most of the calls will require you to reveal either your identification number, account number or transaction authorisation codes (TAC).

Unsolicited calls

• Please be aware that institutions will rarely call you randomly, unless you have previously contacted them, or they have first communicated with you by other means.
• If you receive a call out of the blue from people claiming to be from U Mobile, the authorities or other organisations, it is very likely a scam.

Pitching calls

• Calls that pitch products or services to you with terms that sound too good to be true are common phone scams.
• Most pitch scams offer free product trials, cash prizes, cheap travel packages, and low-risk, high-return investments.

Unknown or first-time senders

• When you get a message or e-mail from someone you don’t recognise, ask yourself this – are you anticipating any new message from a specific sender?
• Take a moment to examine the sender’s information or the content carefully before you proceed.
• When in doubt, call the official hotline of the organisation – find the proper  contact information by going on official websites, and not from what is provided in the e-mail or message.

Do not return calls/e-mails/messages

• To avoid being scammed further, do not answer calls/e-mails/messages from unknown sources.
• Do not return one-ring calls that could cause you to incur hefty international call fees.

Do not provide personal data

• Do not provide any personal information such as identification number, TAC, bank account details, credit card details or other information in response to any suspicious calls or e-mails.
• If they say they have the information and just need to confirm it with you, that’s usually a trick.

Do not click open on suspicious texts, links, pop-up windows or attachments

• If you are unsure of any texts, e-mails, or messages that you have received, always verify the identity of the contact sender by sourcing it independently.
• Do not use contact details that were provided in the message sent to you.

Always know who you’re dealing with

• If you’ve only met someone online or are unsure of the legitimacy of the company, always take some time to do a bit more research.
• Do a search on Google, LinkedIn or any other social media platform to determine the profile and photo of the person.

Phishing

Scammers will create a website that seems to be owned by a reputable business or organisation, and may even incorporate things such as company logos and contact information to increase their credibility.

Scammers send e-mails or generate pop-up messages from these legitimate “businesses” and use these websites to harvest your personal information for their personal gain. 

Vishing/Scam Calls

Vishing/Scam calls involve scammers copying legitimate phone numbers by using the internet telephone service (VoIP). They will try and provoke you by leaving messages to encourage you to return the call. An example of this is by claiming that your personal information had been compromised or that you had won a very special prize.

When you contact the number the caller left, they will ask you to leave information such as bank account numbers and/or other sensitive information in order to resolve the matter.

Wangiri

Scammers will give you a missed call, with the intention that you will call back to find out who called you.

If you return the call, you will be charged a high price as usually the call will be from another country. 

Social Media Scams

Social media scams can take many forms. These include love scams, where scammers will trick unsuspecting users into romantic relationships, then ask for financial assistance.

The scammers will leave the relationship after taking all the money they can from the victim. Scammers on social media may also pose as friends to try and trick you into giving them money. 

SMS Scams

SMS Scams are similar to phishing scams, where scammers send an unexpected SMS message, asking you to click a link that may compromise your phone or force you to make an expensive call/SMS message. 

Malware

Malware scammers send emails and social media messages to you, and will encourage you to click on the links provided to go to a fake website that looks legitimate. You will be asked to install some form of software that will infect your computer with Malware (malicious software).

This malware will allow scammers to access your files and see what you are doing on the computer. With this, scammers will use your personal details and commit fraudulent activities with it.