The Fraud Squad says there has been a surge in the instances of fraudulent cheque transactions and online scams.
Of particular concern is smishing or the use of fraudulent text messages to trick individuals into revealing sensitive financial or personal information, and phishing which is the use of fraudulent emails to do the same thing.
Persons should avoid clicking on links or attachments in suspicious emails or text messages and to verify communications directly with the institution using official contact channels.
They are also advised of the following:
• Never share personal or banking details via text or email.
• Enable multi-factor authentication and use strong, unique passwords.
• Report suspicious messages immediately to their bank or the police.
The TTPS says smishing and phishing scams are evolving rapidly, and maintains that vigilance is the best defense.
With regard to fraudulent cheques, it says while these are difficult to detect at first glance, careful verification can prevent serious financial harm.
This can be done by directly contacting the issuing bank before acceptance, exercising caution with unusually large or urgent payments, and reported any suspected fraudulent activity to the bank or TTPS.
Businesses are also being advised to train staff to recognize red flags such as mismatched details or suspicious endorsements, and to conduct customer due diligence before accepting cheques and handing over property.
