Warning to people who use social media in South Africa

South Africans have been warned to be wary of publicly displaying their lives on social media, as it can threaten their safety by providing valuable information to criminals.

Sharing too much of one’s activities online may also result in insurance companies denying claims following theft or damage to possessions.

This is according to social media legal consultant Lerato Ntwampe, who told the SABC that women and children are particularly vulnerable to these types of attacks.

“Because social media has become a commodity, an economy of likes, many think that they can share anything and it will just simply exist online,” Ntwampe said.

“Unfortunately, there are scammers and other criminals who are watching. There are also insurance companies that use this content to identify risk.”

This follows a report by the state broadcaster, where a woman came forward alleging that she had been abducted by the same syndicate accused of murdering 30-year-old Olorato Mongale.

The individual told the SABC that her abductor informed her she was targeted because she was “publicly displaying your entire life,” saying his motivation was because “women like you take money from men.”

Ntwampe noted that many criminals often find victims on social media and socially engineer a romantic relationship to lure them off the platform.

“Let’s say X is chatting to five women on a social media or dating app. He will then try to move the conversation to WhatsApp or Telegram,” she says.

“By doing this, he is ensuring that the dating app or social media platform cannot monitor the conversation.”

Therefore, Ntwampe encourages clients to stay on the app and not be lured to a separate platform.

She argues that this not only happens to those who are well-off but to everyone, from widows to teachers, and is perpetuated because perpetrators are not reported on the platforms.

As for children, not only does Ntwampe warn against the overexposure of young children to social media, but also parents posting images of their children, such as on their first day of school.

She says this not only tells criminals where these kids go to school daily, but can also provide additional information, such as whether a family is particularly wealthy.

How it affects your insurance coverage

Ntwampe said that South Africans with side hustles that require them to be very active on social media must ensure they correctly insure their possessions.

She said when an individual makes a claim with an insurance provider, the company will analyse their social media accounts to corroborate their story.

She provided the example of a DJ who updates their social media accounts to inform followers about where they are performing.

If this person were to have their car stolen, and their insurance provider finds out from social media that it coincided with their side hustle operations, they could be denied their claim.

Similarly, this information could be used to determine whether additional risk was incurred, such as if the person in question had been drinking before a car accident.

Ntwampe said someone who frequently posts their private lives to social media may also be considered a higher risk than someone who doesn’t.

She noted that influencers who film unboxings, where new products are unboxed, or apartment tours may be vulnerable to break-ins and theft.

“Criminals are watching their social media to figure out when they are planning to go on holiday, and often collude with people working at an individual’s complex,” she said.

Therefore, those who frequently post on social media must check with their insurer to ensure they have the correct coverage for their possessions so that claims are not denied.