Tag: financial fraud

Face biometrics provides a critical first line of technology defence against rising identity fraud. Identity fraud has surged, with impersonation fraud increasing by 356% from April 2022 to April 2023, according to Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS).

Strengthening digital verification methods in financial services is essential to combat fraud, ensure regulatory compliance, and enhance customer trust in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape. Digital onboarding and real-time transactions are key to delivering a slick customer experience for financial services today. However, this open trading world has created gaps for financial criminals, including money launderers, terrorist financiers, and fraudsters, to exploit.

With Black Friday around the corner – a time when credit and account cards are in heavy use – we are urging consumers to stay alert against the rise in fraudulent activities. The increase is the use of online platforms for shopping and managing bills, opens us up to more advanced types of fraudulent activity, so preventing and minimising the risk of financial fraud is important.

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology continues to evolve globally, its integration into the South African business landscape is becoming increasingly prominent. Companies across various sectors are leveraging AI to drive efficiencies, optimise operations, and create new revenue streams.

The 2019-20 local government general report released by the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) on 15 June continues to emphasise the lack of accountability and consequence management in local government which impacts service delivery and municipal finance management.

Investment and financial fraud is on the rise across the world. Each day thousands of people are conned out of their hard-earned money by scams that have increasingly become sophisticated. There are dozens of ways scammers use to gain access to people’s accounts, often masquerading as being from financial institutions.

History, of course, tells us that Ponzi schemes and financial scams are nothing new. However, their sophistication in the online space and in a digitally connected world are tailor-made for casting a wider, global net that lures potential investors with promises of 20% or 30% returns – or, in one recent incident, interest of 7% a week.  

With the range of digital communication channels now available, the question of whether or not e-mail will become obsolete is relevant – but ICT and digital professionals believe that email will always continue to serve as a fast, simple, efficient and accurate means of communication.