Latest news with #Fisher-French
eNCA
12-08-2025
- eNCA
Warning Issued Over OTP Security After Spike in Banking Fraud
As incidents of banking fraud continue to rise in South Africa, personal finance expert Maya Fisher-French has urged consumers to take immediate steps to secure their mobile phones—starting with how one-time PINs (OTPs) are displayed. Speaking during an interview with eNCA, Fisher-French highlighted a recent case in which a reader became a victim of fraud after his mobile phone and wallet were stolen from his car. While he was out kite surfing, criminals broke into his vehicle, stole his belongings, and were able to complete online purchases using his bank cards—because the OTP messages were visible on his phone's locked screen. 'People don't realise that your SMSs, including OTPs, can show up even when your phone is locked,' she told eNCA. 'It's a serious security risk that often goes unnoticed.' A Hidden Vulnerability in Plain Sight In this particular case, the criminals never needed to unlock the phone. The OTP codes, displayed automatically on the lock screen, gave them direct access to complete transactions. Fisher-French urged South Africans to adjust their phone settings to prevent SMS notifications from appearing unless the device is unlocked. 'I went straight to my phone and blocked OTPs from showing on the lock screen,' she said. However, she acknowledged the trade-off many users face. 'I still want to see when there's activity on my account—so disabling all SMS notifications isn't ideal either,' she added. Some newer mobile operating systems, such as iOS and Android 16, now offer more granular controls, allowing users to block OTPs specifically without turning off all alerts. Call for Banks to Step Up Fisher-French also appealed directly to financial institutions, urging them to help address the vulnerability by changing how OTPs are structured in SMS messages. 'I've asked banks to move the OTP down to the third or fourth line of the message,' she explained. 'That way, if it does flash on a locked screen, the actual code isn't immediately visible to anyone who picks up the phone.' Vigilance is Key The interview comes amid an uptick in phishing scams and digital fraud, with consumers being targeted through SMS, email, phone calls, and online platforms. 'I can't stress this enough—we have to be vigilant,' Fisher-French said. 'Don't click on suspicious links, don't share OTPs over the phone, and don't assume your phone is secure just because it's locked.' She described the lock-screen OTP issue as just one of many vulnerabilities facing consumers in an increasingly digital banking environment. 'Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated. We need to stay a step ahead—and that starts with understanding where we're exposed.'
Eyewitness News
12-07-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Auto-assessment and e-filing tips to avoid scams & get through tax season like a pro
Taxes are giving... adult admin (and extra stress) that many don't enjoy. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced the official start of the 2025 Filing Season, effective from 7 July 2025 to 20 October 2025. Auto-assessments are underway for South Africans who have been selected for the process. About 4.8 million taxpayers are expected to be selected for the auto-assessment process. If you've not been selected for an auto-assessment, you will be able to submit your tax return manually from 21 July until 20 October. ALSO READ: SARS expects 4.8m taxpayers to form part of 2025 auto-assessments Fisher-French breaks down some tax need-to-knows: If you're selected for the auto-assessment process, you'll get a notification informing you. If there's a refund from SARS, you'll receive it via EFT within 72 hours. Any additional income, for example, rental income, would need to be declared on auto-assessments. If it does not appear, you would manually need to add it. If you don't, you can be found 'complicit' in avoiding tax and be fined for it. This can be added by editing your auto-assessment. If you have a bond on a home that you're renting out, the interest is tax-deductible and would also need to be declared. Medical aid bills for individuals over 65 years old, family members with disabilities, and dependents are tax-deductible, while medical aid schemes taking up 7.5% of your salary can also be deducted. Don't fall for scams: you won't be given a 'clickable link' to update banking or personal details. SARS will inform you to log in to your e-filing account using their official website or their app. 'Click on nothing' is the key. Avoid filling in any forms asking for personal details, claiming to be from SARS. You have the option to object to your auto-assessment until 20 October on the e-filing system. If you're stuck with e-filing, use the 'e-booking' option on SARS' website to speak to a representative. The call centre takes longer as it's inundated with around 18,000 calls per day during tax season. If you've been auto-assessed, there's still room for error. Fisher-French advises that it's worth checking to see if SARS has captured all your information correctly. She says it's probably correct, but to be sure, it's good to double-check. Happy adulting!
