While technology offers numerous benefits, it also opens the door to cyber threats that can compromise sensitive data and disrupt farming activities. Cybercriminals quickly exploit vulnerabilities in agricultural technology systems, targeting farmers’ valuable data and financial assets.
KwaZulu-Natal livestock farmer Ntombizethu Mkhize shared her unfortunate experience with scams that led her to lose money.
“I have run into scamming problems too often. I initially lost R5 000, and there was another scam where the scammers announced a deal on the local radio station for the local farming community. They claimed they could grow crops on your behalf and sell them,” she recounts.
Mkhize believed it was a great deal, however, the scammers walked away with R45 000 of her hard-earned money and it took her months to recover from the scam.
Keep your eyes open
“I was really disappointed because I took all the money. I am still trying to recover from the events that have taken place. There has been no luck from my side getting any of my money back, but it has opened my eyes to this reality. It is important to be careful,” Mkhize emphasises.
Jackson Dyora, co-founder of the Khula agritech app, said vigilance is important. “When dealing with cyber security, the first thing you should always be wary of is if someone asks you for an OTP pin.
“If someone calls you or texts you to actually receive one, it is usually a scam. It falls into socio-engineering but it’s part of cybercrime,” he said.
According to Dyora, scammers commonly gain access to personal information such as email addresses, and attempt to reset passwords on behalf of their victims. “Once you give access to that OTP pin, it gives them access to reset passwords and possibly find your details.”
He said what cybercriminals usually do is send an email and provide a link that requires a person to enter their password.
Banks are taking security seriously
Lucas Venter senior manager of fraud detection at Nedbank, said their commitment to safeguarding clients against cyber threats is of critical importance.
“We do not offer specific support to farmers but focus on all client segments through layered security levels, proactive monitoring, ongoing communication, and dedicated fraud desks that clients can contact should they become aware of any suspicious transactions.
“We believe that cyber safety is a dual responsibility between the bank and our clients. We work hard through various avenues of communication, to educate our clients on the latest modus operandi and provide them with proactive tips on how to safeguard themselves,” Venter said.
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Use these tips for online purchases
To help farmers keep their personal information secure online, Venter shared some of the tips that farmers who prefer to purchase online could look out for:
- Beware of phishing attempts: Do not click on suspicious links or attachments in emails or text messages. Use strong passwords, utilise complex passwords, and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
- Use secure wifi: Avoid using public wi-fi for sensitive transactions.
- Never give your pin or password to anyone, never give your pin or password to any contact centre claiming to be a bank official, and never transfer funds on the request of any such person.
- Register for facial biometrics: Fraudsters can phish for passwords but cannot imitate your face.
Venter called on farmers to exercise caution with competitions, “Be wary of anyone asking you to register your face for a competition or campaign. Report stolen phones, if your phone is stolen, report it immediately and ensure you notify your bank.
“Set account payment limits, set your account payment limits and tap limits to small amounts to safeguard yourself should your accounts or cards be compromised,” he advised.
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