Crime

MBABANE – Cybercrime perpetrated through online scams is on the increase despite the overall decrease in proceeds from last year’s E855 000.

Police Assistant Commissioner in Charge of the Fraud Unit Nicholas Jele said E778 155 was lost to cybercrime this year. However, he noted that the difference is small as cybercrime is still prevalent.

He said out of 75 cybercrimes committed in October, at least 31 were perpetrated by ‘facata’, a form of cybercrime that thrives with the use of cellphones.

He said one suspect who allegedly perpetrated ‘facata’ crimes was arrested in October. He said the modus operandi of those perpetrating online fraud is that they send business emails. This is whereby the perpetrators would drop an email informing the recipient that they have since changed their banking details and money should be deposited in the new account.

He classified the prevalent cybercrime under online fraud; unauthorised access; harassment through social media; pornography and ‘facata’ (cellphone fraud).

Explaining the pornography, he said it is now common occurrence that when two people are fighting in a love triangle, one obtains nudes of another person and published them on social media to spite the rival. “At times, this is done by pupils who are at loggerheads with each other. This is very dangerous because it can affect the victim mentally.

“This is outlawed by Section 15 of the Cybercrime Act and perpetrators will be dealt with according to the law,” he said.

He said harassment through social media platforms is also illegal and warned people to desist from such.

Jele said during the festive season, many people also fall prey to cybercrime. He warned that if someone will depart from the country during the festive season, they must make sure that their phone is on network roaming mode. “This will help to immediately inform you if your account is being hacked. You will then be able to get onto the bank application and block the car or report to the bank,” he said.

He also issued a warning to people who will be sharing proceeds from their co-operatives known as stockvels to ask the police to accompany them to the bank if there is need to withdraw large sums of money.

He recalled that keeping money in large quantities is risky and advised that people must rather take it to the bank.

He made an example of stokvel money that was recently stolen from a truck, leaving members dejected. “We are currently investigating that case of money that was stolen from the trunk. The women are warned never to withdraw large quantities because they may be robbed along the way.”

It was recently reported that criminals are increasingly using cryptocurrency platforms and mobile money systems to launder illicit funds, as Eswatini faces a medium-high risk of money laundering and terrorism financing. This was revealed by Director General of the Eswatini Financial Intelligence Centre (EFIC), Babhekile Matsebula, during the signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement between EFIC and Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) in Taiwan.

The agreement, she said, marks a new milestone in the strong and enduring bilateral relationship between the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republic of China (Taiwan), aimed at strengthening cooperation in the global fight against money laundering, terrorism financing, proliferation financing and other transnational financial crimes.

Cyber Security Awareness Month is an international campaign held annually in October to raise awareness about online security and how to protect against cyber threats. The campaign is recognised globally and celebrated by countries such as the United States of America and Canada.

*Full article available in our publication

Police Assistant Commissioner in Charge of the Fraud Unit Nicholas Jele said E778 155 was lost to cybercrime this year.