WENDY KNOWLER: If someone from DStv calls to speak about rewards, don't answer. It's a scam!

Jane Dutton (standing in for Relebogile Mabotja) speaks to Consumer Journalist, Wendy Knowler about a bank fraud scam involving MultiChoice.

If someone calls you saying they are from MultiChoice, you may not suspect that your bank funds could be in danger of being accessed -  but you should. 

Several people have shared with Wendy Knowler how a call ostensibly about claiming DStv rewards, resulted in significant financial losses. 

Mpumalanga resident, Witness Mjoli’s story begins with a call he got three months ago from “a woman from DStv” saying she’d help him claim his DStv Rewards. 

About 10 minutes into that conversation, during which she had him clicking on an image she sent him, reading out a pin and turning his phone camera on, his phone froze. 

And when he got back into his phone, and his banking app, he was R48,000 poorer – most of the funds taken from credit facilities, leaving him in debt to his bank, Capitec. 

He thought he was safe because he didn’t divulge any of his banking details, but it turns out he may have unknowingly installed malware on his phone.

The good news is: He was refunded after Knowler took up the case. The bad news is, that he’s not alone. 

When Mjoli shared his story with Knowler, she took up his case with Capitec, asking how the fraudster was able to access his banking app and reset it, armed only with the basic information he had provided. In addition, why didn't the Capitec branch staffer he approached realise what had happened and take steps to safeguard his funds? 

Capitec responded that the fraudster didn't directly access Majoji’s banking app.

“Instead, he might have unknowingly installed malware on his device, likely through a compromised app posing as a DStv app offering cheap or free viewing. This malware likely allowed the fraudster to manipulate the client's phone and intercept communications, including OTPs," said the bank.

Regarding the branch staff's inability to safeguard Mjoji's funds, Capitec stated that employees may not access and evaluate clients' devices for malware. 

“The transaction appeared legitimate as it was performed on the client's device using his credentials and a selfie verification," the bank told Knowler.

But the good news - the bank has reimbursed Mjoji's losses in full. 

"I have since heard from a number of others who had a similar experience – scammed after being contacted about DStv rewards redemption. I contacted DStv earlier in the week to ask if it knew that scammers who using DStv as a ruse to get into their targets’ bank accounts."

- Wendy Knowler, Consumer Journalist

• Only download apps from official platforms.
• Don’t share info with unknown sources.
• Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication. 
• Keep security settings updated. 

MultiChoice does have a “very robust” Rewards Programme that customers have to sign up for (not all customers make use of it), and customers can access their rewards on the MyDStv App, and nowhere else. Any rewards are also advertised on the verified DStv social media pages.  

In response to the rising occurrence of this scam — where individuals are called and prompted to click on a link in an image — MultiChoice added: 

“Please let people know that they need to please pause before clicking on weird links. And tell them the only way to get DStv Rewards is through the MyDStv App. We have  activated our fraud, risk, social media and customer teams. Warnings have been put on our social media pages and will be posted again next week. We will also send all customers emails and notifications on self-service apps to get the message out to warn as many people as possible," said the broadcaster.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.