Don't be digitally dupedIt is scary how sceptical consumers now need to be as we entrench our lives in the digital era. While con artists have been around since the beginning of time, the need to be ever so wary when engaging and transacting online has increased vastly. You really need to question everything - not just an email from your long lost aunt in America who wants you to inherit her fortunes, or an email letting you know you've won £30,000,000 in the UK lottery. I'm as sceptical as it gets when it comes to random emails - and this comes with surfing hours gained over the years - but even I was almost duped recently when I received an email from "Absa". It looked ridiculously legit until of course it requested I submit my details - which is the ultimate never-ever if you bank online. This morning, while hanging out at the Money Market counter at Shoprite (major retail chain in South Africa), I spied a noticeboard advising people of steps to take when doing money transfers e.g. Don't transfer money to people you don't know and don't respond to people who claim you've won a competition you never entered and that requires you to transfer money. While these transactions are completed in-store, the same distrust must be applied while online - especially when it comes to monetary transactions that involve your personal details. It dawned on me that there are still people out there who fall prey to these scams. While it is sort of depressing that one has to question everything, it is extremely important. Perhaps a course needs to be introduced in schools regarding safe online engagement. In the meanwhile, remember to always surf the internet with eyes wide open. Ciao, Sindy Peters, Africa editor
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Today's top stories
Special focus on media freedom
NEW YORK: The Committee to Protect Journalists called on authorities Friday, 18 February 2011, in Bahrain, Yemen and Libya to cease their attempts to prevent media from reporting on anti-government demonstrations. Bahraini authorities used live ammunition - including fire from a helicopter - against peaceful protesters and journalists, according to news reports. Read more >>NEW YORK: Ivorian police in the economic capital, Abidjan, interrogated and issued summonses for questioning last week for editors of newspapers favourable to former presidential candidate Alassane Ouattara, according to local journalists. The UN has recognised Ouattara as the president-elect since disputed November 2010 runoff elections against President Laurent Gbagbo. Read more >>CSI
GENEVA: Green Cross International (GCI) and Giorgio Armani have entered into a partnership to promote access to safe drinking water through GCI's Smart Water for Green Schools project in Ghana. A support and solidarity network has been devised around Acqua di Gio and Acqua di Gioia, two of Giorgio Armani's fragrances. Read more >>Digital
LUXEMBOURG, JOHANNESBURG: The Intelsat New Dawn satellite is scheduled to be launched on 29 March 2011 from Arianespace's launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. Intelsat New Dawn is an African private sector communications satellite. Read more >>SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook on Thursday (17 February 2011) began letting its more than 600 million members indicate whether they are in civil unions or domestic partnerships in what was seen as a victory for same-sex couples. Read more >>Media
[Carole Kimutai] The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) has announced the winners of the inaugural Women Entrepreneurs in the Global Digital News Frontier grants. Each grantee will receive US$20,000 to launch innovative new media enterprises. Read more >> Mobile
[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi's two major players in mobile phone services, Airtel Malawi and Telecom Networks Malawi (TNM), could venture into fixed telephone operations with the development of a convergence licence regime policy by the Malawi government. Read more >> [Carole Kimutai] Orange was announced the winner of the 2011 Best Mobile Technology for Emerging Markets Award during the Global Mobile Awards held last week as part of the GSMA Mobile World Congress. Read more >> PR & Communications
[Thabiso Mochiko] Businessman Lazarus Zim, who was appointed Telkom 's non-executive chairman, has to find a CEO soon - before the government appoints one. Read more >> Retail
[Staff reporter] Zimbabwe's retail super-brand winner 2010, supermarket franchise Spar, and TM Supermarkets, the biggest supermarket by outlets, trailed rival OK Supermarkets as the most preferred outlet, with emerging Chinese-owned Afro-Foods Supermarkets taking the fourth spot. Read more >> Consumer goods group Tiger Brands announced on Tuesday (15 February 2011) that it had entered into an agreement to buy the whole of Davita for R1.345 billion in cash. Read more >>ISTANBUL, TURKEY: The organisers of the Intercontinental Advertising Cup and Summit have announced the speakers and programme for the event, which is due to take place in Istanbul over two days - 11-12 March 2011 - at the Conrad Hotel Istanbul. Read more >>LOS ANGELES, US: The One Club celebrated the best in branded content at the Third Annual One Show Entertainment Awards last week at the House of Blues Los Angeles. There were South African winners in a number of categories. Read more >>SINGAPORE: The organisers of Spikes Asia have announced that the 2011 Festival will take place 18-20 September and will return to the Suntec, Singapore, with the awards ceremony taking place at the Esplanade Theatre. Read more >>MUNICH, GERMANY: TOMORROW FOCUS AG and comScore, Inc. presented the results of a study showing the potential of the internet as a brand building channel at the DLD (Digital Life Design) conference in Munich. Read more >> More International news...
SOUTH AFRICA JFW - Day 1 MoreMatt Gennrich has been appointed general manager of Volkswagen Communications. Read more >> More Motoring news...
[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] When it comes to pricing hotel stays there are rates... and there are rates. Increasingly, hotels refuse to publish their rack rates and quote a best available rate for a particular room on a particular night. *Kiss - Keep it simple, straightforward. Read more >> More Travel news...
[Daphne Cooper] Memory Of How It Feels touches deep collective memories because it is so different. The director, Ina Wichterich-Moane, realised that Neo Muyanga's script required a different form - and this production realises that intention. Read more >> [Justin Williams] One Wednesday evening my dining partner and I decided that we were in the mood for red meat, steak to be precise, and that the popular Cowboy Fillet-themed evening at Krugmann's Grill was in order. The special takes place every Wednesday evening and you are treated to 300g fillet steaks, with your choice of starch and sauce, for R89 each. Read more >> More BizLounge news...
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