Cybercriminals zero in on Namibia’s banking sector
Namibia
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17 Apr 2020
Namibia’s banking sector has become the latest to be targeted by cybercriminals amid lockdown in some regions due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Southern African country, along with Malawi and Zambia, are among those understood to have experience a surge in cybercrime targeting the banking sector amid the global health crisis.
Johnny Truter, Forensic Services manager at Bank Windhoek said customers have reported several calls by fraudsters using COVID-19 as a way to frighten them into providing account details, including PINs.
In a statement issued to the media, Truter said that in response, the Bank continues to encourage its staff and customers to remain vigilant during these unprecedented times.
Truter stated, “Do not click on links or unknown attachments in e-mails from unknown sender and only open e-mails or download software or applications from trusted sources. Also be alert of e-mail subject matter as World Health Organisation e-mails or social media coronavirus messaging.”
Namibia currently does not have a cybercrime law in place.
In February 2020 deputy director of policy and regulations in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology Elisabeth Ujarura Kamutueza said, “Namibia is now working on the legal framework and a cyber security strategy to protect banks from attacks.”
Recent reports by Kaspersky and Check Point revealed that in Africa, Namibia is the most targeted country by cybercriminals.
Commenting on the growing cybercrimes in the region due to COVID-19, Mwansa Mulenga, a technology and cyber security strategist at Cybercrime Prevention Initiative Zambia said cybercriminals are taking advantage of the pandemic to get personal and bank as well as mobile money account details of people.
“What is happening calls for Namibian authorities to work closely with banks in educating consumers on the needs secretly keep banking details especially in difficulty times like these when opportunistic criminals take advantage of desperate people needing help.”