The surge in online scams and attacks has raised concerns about the country's vulnerability in the digital landscape.

Nazia Karrim, spokesperson for the South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS), attributes the high rate of cybercrime in the country to a critical factor: the lack of digital education among its residents. In an interview with Newzroom Africa, Karrim highlighted the digital illiteracy prevalent in the community, emphasizing the absence of knowledge about safety protocols when using various Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

"The problem we have is that our community isn’t digitally educated. They’re not digitally literate. They’re currently not very educated on the safety protocols when using the different types of Internet of things and devices," expressed Karrim. This lack of awareness makes the residents more susceptible to falling victim to cyber-type scams, turning South Africa into an inadvertent testing ground for perpetrators.

Karrim emphasized the ripple effect of successful cyberattacks in South Africa, noting that if a tactic proves effective there, the likelihood of its success elsewhere becomes significantly higher. The critical question arises: Is enough being done by authorities to shield the South African public from the rising tide of cybercrime?

While acknowledging the efforts in place, Karrim believes there is still much ground to cover. She highlighted ongoing initiatives, including public-private collaborations such as SAFPS working with the South African cyberfraud task team and involving specialists from Hawks and SAPS (South African Police Service).

A concerning trend in cybercrime involves scammers masquerading as reputable businesses. Karrim detailed how scammers exploit the trust associated with well-known brands, particularly in financial matters like loans. By impersonating these businesses, scammers deceive consumers into believing they are dealing with a trusted entity, creating a false sense of security.

However, Karrim noted a critical lapse in due diligence among many South Africans when it comes to these impersonation scams, leading to substantial financial losses for victims. The rise of deepfake scam videos further exemplifies the evolving tactics employed by cybercriminals. These videos feature well-known news anchors engaging in conversations with influential figures like Elon Musk, leveraging deepfake technology to create a deceptive narrative.

As Karrim pointed out, South Africa's lack of digital education and the failure to conduct due diligence make it an ideal testing ground for such cybercrimes. To address this gap, creating awareness becomes paramount.

In response to this imperative, SAFPS has launched the Ima website, a dedicated platform for scam prevention. "Ima," meaning "stop" in Zulu and Xhosa, seeks to empower consumers by educating them about various types of scams and providing practical solutions for daily use. Karrim emphasized the significance of Fraud Awareness Week and urged individuals to leverage resources like the Ima website to fortify their defenses against cyber threats.

As South Africa navigates the digital landscape, the battle against cybercrime demands a united front, combining education, awareness, and collaborative efforts to fortify the country's digital resilience.