NEW WAVE OF CYBERCRIMINALS TARGETING EMASWATI

MBABANE - Just as the nation begins to recover from the ‘facata’ scams, a new wave of cybercriminals is targeting emaSwati through WhatsApp hacking.
In this latest scheme, scammers gain unauthorised access to individuals’ WhatsApp accounts and, posing as the legitimate account holders, send distress messages to their contacts, pleading for urgent financial assistance. According to the police, these messages typically involve fabricated scenarios, such as being stranded in a foreign country, held hostage, or facing a dire medical emergency. Scammers often target specific individuals within the victim’s contact list, exploiting existing relationships to increase the likelihood of successful extortion attempts. The requested amounts vary significantly, ranging from E5 000 to E20 000.

Confirmed

Assistant Commissioner Director Fraud and Commercial Unit Nicholas Jele confirmed that the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is currently investigating five such cases, where individuals’ WhatsApp accounts were compromised. He urged the public to remain vigilant and exercise extreme caution when receiving unexpected messages requesting financial assistance, especially those from contacts who may be experiencing difficulties. To enhance security, individuals should enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), which adds an extra layer of security by requiring a unique code, typically sent via SMS, in addition to their password. They should also be wary of clicking on any links or downloading any attachments from unknown senders or suspicious sources. Regularly updating one’s WhatsApp to the latest version is crucial as updates often include security enhancements.

Furthermore, individuals should avoid sharing sensitive information like their date of birth, phone number and location with unknown contacts. If they suspect that their WhatsApp account has been compromised, they should immediately report it to WhatsApp and change their password. If individuals receive a suspicious message from a contact requesting money, they should attempt to verify the authenticity of the request through an independent channel, such as a phone call. It is crucial to avoid sending any money to unknown accounts or individuals based solely on a WhatsApp message. Finally, reporting the incident to REPS and informing WhatsApp about the compromised account is essential. Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy, the youngest accused in the ‘facata’ scams case, has been charged with fraud involving a sum of over E200 000.

*Sabelwe from Mbadlane, appeared before Manzini Principal Magistrate Florence Msibi. He faces a total of 65 counts. He was charged for allegedly contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act of 2018, Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011 and theft by false pretences. The minor, who was arrested in Ezulwini, is accused of being part of a criminal gang involved in defrauding victims by misrepresenting that they were assisting with removing hacking viruses from their cellphones and bank accounts.  The victims were tricked into providing their internet banking credentials, leading to the theft of substantial sums.

Over 40 people have been arrested in connection with these electronic scams. The largest amount allegedly stolen by the minor was E134 084.16 from Sebentile Simelane in Matsapha in October 2024.  In another incident, he is accused of stealing E6 790 from Winile Shabangu at Maphalaleni in November 2024. Last week, a 19-year-old man, currently out on bail for two Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) charges, was arrested in the Facata scams.  He was accused of swindling a victim more than E400 000.  Sinenkhosi Ncamiso Sikhosana, from Thulwane, appeared before Manzini Principal Magistrate Florence Msibi, facing a total of 70 charges.

Cybercrime

These charges include theft by false pretences, contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act (POCA) No.11 of 2018, and violations of the Computer Crime, Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011, as well as the Cybercrime Act No.6 of 2022. The Crown applied for the detention of various items, including Eswatini Mobile and MTN SIM cards, a black Oale cellphone, and a SIM card PUK number. The court granted the order, and the minor was remanded in custody until January 22, pending committal to the High Court.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: