Tag: cybercrime

For most South Africans, digital banking has become second nature. We pay accounts from our phones, shop online, book holidays, transfer money to family and friends, and invest through banking apps. We can complete all these transactions within seconds. Unfortunately, criminals have become just as comfortable operating in this digital world.

White-collar crime in Africa is no longer a predominantly domestic concern. It has expanded onto an international stage, and so has the corporate exposure that comes with it. As capital crosses borders, data moves at the speed of light, and corporate structures become more complex, economic crime has kept pace. It has become more sophisticated, more multinational and increasingly difficult to investigate and prosecute within the confines of a single legal system.

According to our recent global report, password guessing and valid account misuse rank among the most effective tactics cyber criminals use in 2025. This trend reflects a strategic shift. Attackers now move away from noisy malware that triggers endpoint protection. Instead, they leverage legitimate access to evade detection.

The fines scam. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) refund. The parcel that needs clearing. If you have a South African cellphone number, you have likely encountered all three. Fraud has become part of the background noise of digital life. Consequently, most people have developed a reflexive response: delete, ignore and move on. However, a more difficult question now confronts banks, fintechs and payment platforms.

We have released a new report outlining ransomware trends that shaped 2025. The report also provides insights into how the ransomware threat landscape may evolve. According to our Security Network, Latin America recorded the highest share of organisations affected by ransomware attacks at 8.13%. The Asia-Pacific region followed at 7.89%, while Africa stood at 7.62%. In addition, the Middle East recorded 7.27%, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) reached 5.91%, and Europe reported 3.82%.

Facebook cloning scams are continuing to rise. They are turning ordinary profiles and family photos into tools for fraud and social engineering. Have you ever wondered what criminals can do with a convincing copy of your life? If not, you should. Criminals can easily step inside your Facebook world and create a cloned profile using your family, friends, adventures and experiences.

A SIM card is, effectively, a portable identity token. Once compromised, it gives attackers a back door into bank accounts, digital wallets, investment apps and other high-risk transactional environments. As a result, SIM card fraud exposes individuals and institutions to cascading financial and compliance risks.

Deepfakes are no longer science fiction. They are a real and growing business risk. We have released our latest white paper, The Surge of Deepfake Cyber Threats. The report uncovers how AI-driven digital impersonations defraud companies, spread disinformation, and compromise brand trust.

Cybercriminals don’t just target systems. They target people. Nearly 70% of cyber incidents stem from preventable human mistakes. This makes an untrained workforce the weakest link in any organisation. Enter gamified learning. This approach to cybersecurity training replaces routine compliance checklists with story-driven challenges based on real-life scenarios.

Identity fraud is evolving at an alarming rate. Stolen data, synthetic IDs and deepfakes are now common tools for criminals. Traditional password and document checks fail more frequently than ever. Companies must move from playing catch-up to taking the lead. They need AI-driven biometrics, continuous validation and layered defences.