The Naspers Group has warned the South African public of a scam designed to defraud them of their money.
In a statement, the company said fraudsters imply that the targeted recipients will benefit from trades in Naspers shares made on their behalf if they deposit cash into a third party account. The returns promised are very enticing – for example, a 100% return on investment in an hour. Once money is transferred into the account the funds disappear.
“Naspers urges people to always use extreme caution when receiving calls, text messages or emails from an unknown source, particularly when they include requests to part with money. Phishing emails, texts and calls can be very convincing, with company logos and banners copied from websites,” it said.
Tips to avoid becoming a victim of a phishing scam:
- Never respond to an unsolicited call, text message or email no matter how official it may seem.
- Use extreme caution when clicking on links and attachments included in unsolicited emails, even if they appear to be from a company or person with whom you do business.
- If you believe you have responded to a fraudulent email, contact your bank immediately so they can take steps to protect your account and your identity.