Mbabane – The Ministry of ICT and the #SecureEswatini campaign are urging citizens to become more vigilant against online scams as cybercriminals refine their tactics. The initiative, part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, aims to equip residents with the knowledge to identify threats such as phishing emails, social engineering tactics, business and personal email compromises, ransomware attacks, and financial fraud.
Officials warn that many scams rely on deception rather than technology. Social engineering is a common tactic where criminals impersonate trusted organisations such as banks, government agencies, or colleagues to pressure victims into revealing sensitive information like passwords or bank details. Citizens are advised to remain skeptical of unexpected requests, verify such requests through official channels, and avoid using contact details provided in suspicious messages.
Phishing scams, where messages appear to come from legitimate companies to trick recipients into sharing personal data or clicking malicious links, are another major threat. Red flags include subtle misspellings in email addresses, typos, poor grammar, urgent warnings, and suspicious links. Residents are encouraged to hover over links to check their true destination before clicking and to delete messages that seem suspicious.
Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams are also rising, with attackers impersonating high-ranking employees to trick team members into transferring funds. Officials advise confirming all financial requests verbally using verified phone numbers rather than contacts in suspicious emails.
Ransomware attacks, which lock files and demand money for release, remain a critical threat. Experts advise regular backups to external drives or the cloud, keeping all software updated, avoiding ransom payments, disconnecting infected devices, and consulting cybersecurity professionals.
Online shoppers are reminded to ensure websites display “https://” and a padlock icon, avoid unsecured public Wi-Fi, use reputable retailers, and frequently monitor bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions.
The campaign encourages citizens to develop healthy scepticism online and register for free cybersecurity courses to strengthen personal and national digital security. Registration is open at https://bit.ly/FreeCyberCourses2025.
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