Keep you and your family safe
NEVER CLICK ON ANY LINKS IN AN EMAIL UNLESS YOU ARE 100% CERTAIN THAT IT WAS SEND FROM A TRUSTWORTHY SOURCE–IF IN DOUBT CALL THE SOURCE AND DOUBLE- CHECK.
With fewer face-to-face interactions and more communication happening over email and other electronic devices, cybercriminals are taking advantage.
An increasing number of people have fallen victim to cybercrime (especially phishing scams – the fraudulent of emails from what appears to be a reputable source) during the coronavirus lockdown. Cybercriminals see this as an additional opportunity to exploit the situation and the vulnerability of individuals (and internet users). Cloud-based email platforms (e.g. Gmail) in particular, are targeted using false information or phoney vendor emails. Damages can include both financial and reputational losses.
With most of the global workforce now working from home, everyone needs to be extra vigilant when clicking on links and downloading attachments from emails, especially if the email is related to the coronavirus. Remote working provides cybercriminals with a prime opportunity to target devices, especially those that don’t necessarily have adequate IT security measures in place.
HOW TO RECOGNISE A SUSPICIOUS EMAIL/SMS/WHATSAPP?
- The incorrect spelling of the “sender’s” email, e.g. autu.co.za instead of autus.co.za
- Not addressing you in a formal way or by name
- Wrong contact details of the sender, e.g. other address than Autus official address
- when the content of the message creates a sense of necessity or urgency for the recipient to click
- on a link provided in the mail
VERY IMPORTANT
- when the wording requires urgent attention from the recipient
- when the text ask for personal detail – especially banking details
- when the message contains any indication of winnings/inheritance/prizes
- be mainly on the outlook for messages send from SARS, your bank or other financial institutions
- as they will not make contact via electronic mail
PLEASE TAKE NOTE
Autus have an internal rule to contact all clients in the case of any withdrawals (to confirm the
request) or the change of valuable information (e.g. Banking details). We prevented illegal withdrawals in the past by doing this and saved our clients from the loss of capital (his/her computers were hacked).