These days it seems like most people live online. But be careful how much you share. Scammers are on the prowl for information so that they can pretend to be you.
Your profile picture, your birthday post, that video of your matric dance, the check-in at your local spot — none of it feels like a big deal on its own. But a scammer can put it all together to create a full picture of you.
Once scammers have enough information, they use it to trick you into giving them even more information. They do this via phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp, or email. They have just enough information to make you trust them.
You might get a call from your “bank”. The person on the line might know your birthdate and your mother’s maiden name, because you shared a ‘throwback’ post tagging her, or your first pet’s name from a fun quiz you filled in and shared. They then convince you to give them your bank PINs or other passwords.
This method is called social engineering. The banking sector’s 2024 crime statistics found that almost all digital banking fraud stemmed from social engineering — tricking someone into willingly handing over details — rather than from criminals hacking anything. Criminals do not need to hack anything if you have already told them enough.
Identity theft: Why your ID number is worth more than your bank card
If your bank card is stolen, you phone your bank, it gets blocked, and a new one arrives. Done. Your ID number does not work that way. It cannot be cancelled or replaced. Once a criminal has it, along with other supporting details they found online, they can apply for accounts, loans, and credit cards in your name, and you may only find out once the damage is done.
Do the five-minute stranger test
Here is a simple audit. Open your public profiles and look at them as a stranger would.
Could a stranger learn any of the following about you on social media:
- Your full name and date of birth.
- Where you live or work, and your daily routine.
- Your high school or hometown (often used as a security question).
- Your family members’ or pets’ names.
- Your phone number or email, shared in a comment or bio.
- Your maiden name
- When you are on holiday
If a stranger could build a profile of you from public information alone, so can a scammer.
You don’t need to disappear from social media, but go through your accounts and:
- Remove any information that scammers can use to put together a picture of you and your life.
- Use strict privacy settings
- Make sure you have strong and unique passwords. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security. This requires multiple forms of verification, such as a mobile code, authentication app, or facial recognition.
- Verify friend requests and followers
- Report phishing attempts, fake profiles or other suspicious activity immediately to the social media platform’s support team.
- Be careful when accessing your social media accounts over public WiFi networks, as these networks can be insecure.
- Check your credit report for free once a year with each credit bureau so you can spot any account opened in your name before it becomes a bigger problem.
- You can also register for free with the Southern Africa Fraud Prevention Service, which flags your ID so banks and credit providers take extra care before approving anything in your name.
If you think your identity has been stolen, act quickly. Report it to the police and get a case number, then contact your bank and any affected credit providers to flag the fraud and secure your accounts. Notify the credit bureaus too, so they can put an alert on your profile and stop further damage while it’s investigated.
None of this means quitting social media. It just means making sure the only person who can build a full picture of you is you.
Sources
JustMoney: Are you sharing too much on social media?
UCT: Essential tips for navigating social media safely
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All content is for general educational purposes and does not constitute formal financial advice. Always consult a qualified, licensed financial professional before making any financial decisions.