Don’t be digitally duped - 21 Feb 2011

It 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.