Avoiding online fraud.
In a population dominated by unemployed, fraud and other cybercrime dominate. Why? The population is made up of skillful individuals but the nature of economy is not favorable enough to accommodate the young geniuses. They therefore, create their own custom environment. FRAUD.
Fraud ranges from phone calls to SMS and to email messages. That’s the severity of a message.
Have been a victim of online fraud through MPESA, the story still remains vivid enough to be retold to grandchildren. The heartbreak lasted a year; I could not believe my stupidity could have moved the joke that much. My story. This guy called. The number was unique enough to be trusted and I did. The guy who kept on cushioning my feelings to ensure I do not deviate from his needs was so much decisive. His professional jargons matched those of a Programmed Office Assistant. He said they were rewarding me as a top Telkom retailer nationwide 50k and of course, I trusted that because how could this stranger know that am a Telkom retailer, which of course I was. He convinced me to shift to Safaricom line since my Telkom line had been not active for long, it was, of course. Each time he reminded me never to share my Mpesa PIN to anyone including himself….it is a long story for a special day but I ended up withdrawing money to a remote Equity Agent and he guided me in locking up my line using a series of Android codes that I came to understand later. This is one of the several instances of fraud, the fact is, and the feeling after being conned is so much weird that no one can afford to share. Below is a curated list of various techniques useful to make you safe online. From personal experience to documents on the web. We go:
Mind the information you share on social media
Fraudsters often use your social media profile information to fake how much they know you just to gain that trust, and it is all they need first. Normalize making personal details as private as possible. This includes whom you follow and who follows you. Posting a picture of you holding a credit card may look cool but may not look secure. THINK.
Keep personal information personal
Never give your passwords, PINs and your bank details via call or through email messages. Legitimate companies and deals will not request these details online. Keeping your personal details personal is the first step of making your online presence secure. These includes credit cards too.
Be updated with the information from the companies from which you get services.
If Safaricom PLC only calls through 100, why trust a different number proclaiming to be Safaricom PLC customer care. If there is a change, the companies will immediately communicate that on their walls. The information is available. Follow the official accounts on social media platforms to get free of charge updates and avoid future costs of ignorance.
Never trust links starting with http and not https commonly being propagated on social media claiming to be giving offers and scholarships. AVOID. Remember the s in https represents secure and should never be underrated. Through these links, you may download malicious apps that harvest your private data such as contacts, SMS and credit card details.
Avoid performing crucial online operations using public Wi-Fi, such as online payment for goods and services. These public hotspots are prone cyberattacks. If you cannot afford private Wi-Fi then consider using mobile data. It is safe.
Stick with companies and brands that have that strong reputation. You remember the story of AIM Global and Amazon Web Workers that defrauded masses who so the deals juicy and never reevaluated their decisions.
Be quick in consulting immediately you are about to make an ad hoc decision. Consider consulting with professional consultants, trusted friends and religious leaders to ensure that you have the audacity backed up by evidence before a decision is made.
Be bold on calls and talk like you own the call because it is only with this that the fraudster will get to know your stand. Ask straightforward and thoughtful questions and demand immediate answers else end the call. Never allow answers starting with, you know…, end the call BLOCK and REPORT AS SPAM. Breathe.
Make your passwords as strong as possible. Avoid using your personal information as your passwords example avoid using year of birth as your PIN. Avoid using your name and common passwords with patterns like Pass123@, Password2021, P@$$w0rd… Attackers start with those. Instead, use compositions of special characters, numbers and alphabets and afford at least eight characters in length.
Above all, remember there is no gain without pain. Always question easy moneys that come with little to no sweat mentally or physically, or investments that you do not understand.
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