Here’s how to protect yourself against online criminals and their scams

I would never fall for a scam like that, many think when they hear of someone falling victim to a plot that ends in them losing money.

Yet, criminals are becoming ever more sophisticated in their attempts to part South Africans from their hard-earned cash, and it’s harder to spot when you’re being conned.

The swindles are smart and wide-ranging – from cars and airtime to lottery and love. The crooks are often part of sophis­ticated syndicates, says Manie Van Schalkwyk from the non-profit organisation Southern African Fraud Prevention Service.