A reader requested FactCheckZW to look into the issue of an unknown person with an Italian number who is inboxing people asking to befriend them.
The person, who calls himself Smith Petrix, is currently sending a number of people in Zimbabwe a WhatsApp message posing as someone from Italy.
Petrix presents himself as a wealthy person and asks to make friends with you.
Once you agree, he asks you to send your details which include full names, date of birth, pictures, email addresses and sometimes financial information.
It is highly likely that Petrix is an identity thief and a scammer and people should not provide any kind of information to him.
What is Phishing?
Phishing is an attempt to acquire sensitive data from someone.
There are several types of phishers and the most common is the ‘Nigerian Prince’ who swindled people of millions of dollars in recent years.
The Prince posed as a person of wealth and position who needs to get a huge sum of money out of his country with your assistance and in return he would give you a sizable share of his fortune.
The desperate Prince’s fortune would be hostage to war, corruption or political unrest and he only needed your bank account number to transfer the money for safekeeping.
This way, he drained his victims’ accounts.
Other phishers are not after money, but they pose as lovers and soon you will be exchanging intimate pictures with them.
Those pictures will be used to blackmail you into paying some money or else you will find your naked self all over the internet.
Identifying and preventing phishing attacks
● Be skeptical – if something sounds too good to be true, it is
● Be wary of foreigners who just happen to have your mobile number without clear explanation where they got it from
● Do not click on links sent to you via email or other social media platforms from suspicious persons. The link may contain a virus that can contaminate your device
● Never give out your personal information, confidential data, bank details and passwords
● Treat with suspicion messages written to appeal to your sense of curiosity, fear and sympathy
● If it smells like fish, then it is fish
