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Tom Muleya Fraud Insight

Research has shown that within the security system, human beings are the weakest link.

I strongly concur with this assertion.  For road traffic accidents have been attributed to human error than mechanical defects of the motor vehicles.

In the same vein, many casualties on fraud scams have to do with the victims themselves ignorantly aiding the fraudsters to con them.

Policing people in cyber space is currently one of the biggest global challenges facing law enforcement agents.

It is very difficult to monitor individuals who decide to go solo on social media and expose themselves to scammers.

The nation has the “Data Protection Act [Chapter 11:12] of 2021”, which is meant to increase data protection to build confidence and trust in the secure use of information and communication technologies by data controllers, their representatives and data subjects.

While the legislation in place protects the general public and the corporate world, many social media users care less about their behaviour and protection on social media platforms.

Most of the challenges faced by the members of the public using various social media platforms have to do with the issue of protection. Fraudsters have also taken their business to social media platforms where they flight fraudulent adverts and unsuspecting victims are scammed.

The various social media sites available are WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Tik-Tok, and WeChat. But in our local context, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter have been singled out in cases involving cyber fraud. The  Commercial Crimes Division is seized with investigation of many cases that have been committed on those platforms.

The internet system and cyber space has inherent vulnerabilities and risks, it is a fact, but social media users should play their part to minimise occurrences of cyber fraud and this is a big possibility.

As part of daily or routine exercise, social media users will not aid or assist cyber criminals if they consider the following tips:

• Take responsibility; carefully and intelligently use social media platforms to best advantage to avoid being scammed.
• Always do or conduct cyber due diligence when conducting business on social media.
• Not follow unsolicited and unfamiliar sites.
• Not expose or share any confidential information or personal data on social media such bank details and PIN.
• Ensure that your cellphone or computer is always locked when not in use to prevent unauthorised access.
• Use strong password on your social media accounts which cannot be easily guessed, that is made up of a combination of numbers and characters preferably a long password, yet easy to remember.
• Avoid as much as possible dating someone on social media, as in most cases this ends in someone being duped.
• Avoid wantonly clicking on social media as this increases chances of clicking on wrong or fraudulent links.
• Avoid following anything that is too good to be true on social media platforms.
• Quickly delete any spam messages.

Participate in the fight against cybercrime on social media. Your security on cyberspace matters, “Think Cyber Security”, practice “Cyber hygiene”, and “Be careful when you do business on social media”.

Join the fight against cybercrimes. Get empowered by Fraud Insight and be part of a solution to the cybercrime. Watch out for the next issue.

For your feedback, WhatsApp line: 0772 764 043, or e-mail:[email protected]. Tom Muleya is a Detective Assistant Inspector working under the CID Commercial Crimes Division. He is also a member of the National Cyber Security Taskforce, Zimbabwe.