The infamous ‘facata’ scammers are allegedly using ‘black magic’ on their targeted victims to confuse and make them fall for their tricks.
This was disclosed by members of the public during a data protection awareness campaign hosted by the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) in Siteki.
During the campaign, the public was urged to keep their personal details confidential and avoid making monetary transactions with strangers.
As officials from ESCCOM engaged the public on data protection issues, the public claimed that ‘facata’ scammers were possibly using some evil spiritual powers (muti) to confuse their targets.
A resident of Siteki who identified herself as Elizabeth Groening said the calls from the scammers were always convincing yet confusing at the same time.
“You only realise that you have been scammed immediately after completing the transaction they directed you to do,” she said.
Another resident, Bongani Ndzabandzaba, said the scammers would make them follow their instructions even after having been warned about such scams.
“It’s like they take away your reasoning ability for some minutes,” he said.
Ndzabandzaba said it was for this reason that more people kept losing money to scammers in a similar fashion.
Meanwhile, ESCCOM’s Mcolisi Dlamini emphasised that members of the public should avoid entertaining strangers who emerged from nowhere and promised them jobs over phone calls.
Dlamini said some people were made to pay large sums of money in exchange for jobs that do not exist.
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He stated that the infamous ‘facata’ scammers were still on the loose and targeting unsuspecting individuals.
Among safety tips, Dlamini urged the public to keep their cellphone passwords private.
He stated that in most instances, information that led to theft of money was stolen through cellphones.
Adding, Phephile Masilela warned against giving out personal identity card (ID) details to shops and other establishments without knowing why it was necessary.
“You need to know why your personal details are required by that shop before giving it out,” she said.
Furthermore, Masilela highlighted the importance of having personal details recorded correctly wherever they are required.
She stated that some people ended up incurring other people’s debts by having their names and personal details strategically matched with another person’s names.
“A name that has been entered wrongly may lead to a debt being credited to your name,” she said.
She stated that personal details included even the smallest details such as place of residence, parents’ names and past schools.
“Do not give out these details willy-nilly without knowing why they are required,” she added.
On another note, Zweli Sangweni from the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) urged the public to also utilise online services through the ‘Government In Your Hand’ platform.
Sangweni said this was one way of ensuring that services were brought to the people in the easiest way possible.
