JOHANNESBURG - As the year draws to a close, the festive season brings not only celebrations but also an increase in scams.
The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service is warning against a surge in vishing scams.
They are phone calls where scammers impersonate trusted institutions to extract information from you.
This rise in phone-based fraud is particularly troubling given its impact on vulnerable groups like senior citizens.
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They are often targeted through manipulative tactics during this busy, distracted time of year.
Manie van Schalkwyk, CEO of SAFPS, said people should just put the phone down.
"People phone you out of the blue to say there’s fraud on our account and that you need to click on a link to identify yourself or read the one-time PIN, and they will help you secure the rest of your money into a safe account."