Page 17 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 3 2025

ESTATE NEWS
THE BIG PICTURE
ESTATE MATTERS
HOME FRONT
FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE an OTP or personal information over the FINAL THOUGHTS
"I never thought I’d use
2AND “TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE” phone. This stuff is happening every day. To good
DEALS • If in doubt, call your network provider people. To educated people. To people
the estate’s amenities,
You’re selling a couch. Or a second-hand directly using a known number. who should “know better.” But scams are
but I do. Having a place to
laptop. The buyer’s polite. Keen. Says they’ll • Set up SIM swap protection with your designed to trick you. They work because
send an e-wallet or do a cellphone payment bank and mobile provider. they bypass logic and go straight for
run or play golf without
through FNB, Capitec or MTN Money. Within emotion — fear, excitement, trust.
minutes, you get an SMS confirmation. It REAL EXAMPLE:
driving somewhere makes
looks real. The amount is right. But it’s fake. A Cape Town businessman lost over So don’t be embarrassed. And don’t be
R700,000 after a scammer called claiming silent.
Sometimes it’s the wording. Sometimes the to be from MTN fraud services. Within 10 a difference."
date’s off by a digit. But you’re in a rush, minutes, his number had been ported, Talk about it. Share stories. Ask for advice.
and they’re on their way — so you hand over his banking apps breached, and his funds And when in doubt — pause. Breathe.
the item. transferred. Double-check. Your future self will thank
you.
By the time you realise the SMS was forged,
they’re long gone. It doesn’t matter how smart you are. Or how
SPOT THE SCAM: careful. Or how much money you’ve put away. If
• The buyer offers a cellphone-based
payment (like e-wallet or cash send). you live, bank, shop, date or even browse online
• You receive an SMS confirming the
money, but it hasn’t reflected in your — you’re a target.
account.
• There’s pressure to hand over the item
immediately.
• They claim the funds will reflect once you
"verify" with a code.

WHAT TO DO INSTEAD:
• Physically go to the ATM and check that
the funds are actually there before you
release the item.
• Don’t rely on SMS confirmations — they
are incredibly easy to fake.
• Insist on cash, or verified EFTs that
reflect in your account first.
• Meet in public places, with someone
else present.

REAL EXAMPLE:
A seller in Randburg lost a brand-new
iPhone after receiving a realistic-looking
“e-wallet confirmation”. The message had
a genuine bank logo, but the transaction ID
was missing one digit.
SIM SWAP SCAMS AND PHONE
3CALL FRAUD
You get a call. The person on the other end
says they’re from Vodacom, MTN, or Cell C.
They say someone’s trying to do a SIM swap
on your number — but don’t worry, they just
need your OTP to block it.
They’re calm, confident, even reassuring.
They say it’s urgent. The code is about to
expire.
The moment you give it to them, your phone
goes dead. Within seconds, they’ve taken
over your number — and with it, access
to your WhatsApp, your emails, and your
banking apps.

SPOT THE SCAM:
• Any call claiming to be from a mobile
provider that asks for your OTP.
• Claims that your SIM is being "swapped"
and they need you to act fast.
• The caller sounds official and uses
familiar jargon.

PROTECT YOURSELF:
• Hang up. Immediately.
• No mobile operator will ever ask you for

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