As we enter into the 2023 tax season, WhatsApp scams have become a persistent problem in the realm of fast-paced technology and communication. Taxpayers in South Africa are being warned by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), banks, and the police to be vigilant about identity theft.
Scams on WhatsApp and SMS Are Growing in Frequency
Due to its massive user base of over 2 billion people, WhatsApp is frequently targeted by fraudsters. SARS has warned that WhatsApp and SMS scams have been increasing at an alarming rate in preparation for the 2023 tax season. Cons have been tricking people into giving out their personal information by pretending to be SARS officials.
A representative for SARS said, “The fraudsters may use your personal information in such a way that can result in you having increased tax liabilities to SARS, and you can even become the subject of a criminal investigation.”
This strategy has broader applications than just racking up tax bills. Scammers are registering unsuspecting victims as taxpayers using stolen personal information such as ID numbers, phone numbers, and emails. By filing fraudulent tax returns, the perpetrators hope to receive reimbursements from SARS at the expense of their victims. The manipulation of taxes is only one target of these schemes. If con artists get their hands on your data, they can use it to open bank accounts in your name, apply for loans, and make purchases on credit, all of which will be your responsibility.
New Cons, New Tactics
Another WhatsApp-based scam has been reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS). Captain Khanyi Nhlapo of the South African Police Service issued a warning, saying, “Scammers are hijacking people’s WhatsApp accounts. New cons appear all the time. Be wary of anything and never give out private information.
Captain Nhlapo went into greater detail about a con in which the con artist sends the victim an SMS claiming the victim provided a six-digit code to the wrong number. After then, they press the victim for an immediate reveal of the code. By giving the fraudster this code, the victim’s WhatsApp account is compromised.
How to Keep Your WhatsApp Account Secure
In light of the proliferation of these frauds, IT and security professionals have provided advice on how to keep your WhatsApp account secure. One must first activate two-factor authentication on their WhatsApp account. Please double-check the legitimacy of any texts you receive. If you don’t recognise the number, verify your connection to the sender before blocking the number.
Send a report to WhatsApp to get the account deleted. This tax season, it pays to be more tech aware if you want to avoid any mistakes. Protecting your personal information and carefully examining every SMS and WhatsApp message that could be a scam is your first line of defense as SARS, banks, and police continue to band together to combat the growth of fraud.
About the Author:
Sipho Khumalo is Africa Nova’s lead science and technology journalist. He has a background in computer science and a passion for tech start-ups and the latest tech trends across Africa. Sipho has previously written for renowned tech journals and uses his expertise to analyze and report on Africa’s tech scene.
