Phishing Scams Surge During Tax Season: 6 Tips to Stay Cyber
With South Africa’s tax season officially open and auto-assessments being issued, taxpayers must be on high alert. Cybercriminals are actively exploiting this period, launching sophisticated phishing campaigns to steal sensitive personal and financial data. These fraudulent attacks, which often come as emails or messages disguised to look like they are from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), are becoming increasingly difficult to detect. As these threats grow, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky is urging all citizens and businesses to practice extreme vigilance when handling any communications related to their taxes.
6 Tips to Protect Yourself from Tax Scams
Phishing remains one of the most prevalent and effective cyber threats in South Africa, preying on the urgency and importance of tax compliance. A recent Kaspersky study highlighted that phishing was responsible for 67% of all cyber incidents reported by local companies in the last year. To avoid becoming a victim, follow these essential security tips:
1. Verify All Communications: Never trust unsolicited emails or messages. Instead of clicking on a link, manually type the official SARS eFiling website address into your browser to log in and check your status.
2. Inspect the Sender’s Details: Carefully examine the sender’s email address. Scammers often use addresses that are similar to official ones but have slight variations.
3. Look for Red Flags: Be suspicious of emails with poor grammar, spelling mistakes, generic greetings like “Dear Taxpayer,” or a tone that creates a false sense of urgency.
4. Never Share Sensitive Data: SARS will never request your banking details, passwords, or PINs via email, SMS, or WhatsApp. Treat any such request as a fraudulent attempt to steal your information.
5. Hover Before You Click: Before clicking any links, hover your mouse over them to preview the destination URL. If the address looks unfamiliar or doesn’t match the official SARS domain, do not click.
6. Report Suspicious Activity: If you receive a potential phishing scam, report it to both SARS and your financial institution immediately to help protect yourself and others.
The scale of this threat cannot be overstated. Alongside the rise in phishing, South Africa has seen a 29% year-on-year increase in overall cyberattacks. Globally, the problem is just as severe, with Kaspersky blocking nearly 900 million phishing attempts in 2024 alone. By staying informed and cautious, taxpayers can significantly reduce their risk of falling prey to these convincing scams during tax season.
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